Is skateboarding good exercise? (Options + Benefits)

When it comes to fitness, there’s no one size fits all approach.

Some people enjoy jogging and running, others lifting weights or playing sports, and some even take unique paths like skateboarding to get moving.

Skateboarding is an exciting activity that not only provides entertainment but has the potential for a great workout too.

In this guide, discover the remarkable workout potential of skateboarding and the excellent health benefits it offers to anyone dedicated to staying active.

So grab your board, lace up those shoes (or better yet strap on a pair of skates) and let’s hit the road.

Skateboarding as an exercise option:

If you’re looking to get in shape, there are countless options available to you.

But if you’re looking for an exercise that is both fun and effective, look no further than skateboarding.

It’s a unique form of exercise that can provide many health benefits while also being incredibly enjoyable.

Let’s take a look at why skateboarding is such a great option for those who want to get moving. 

Low Impact Exercise

Skateboarding is considered a low-impact exercise, meaning it does not put as much strain on your body as some other forms of exercise.

This makes it especially beneficial for those who may have issues with their joints or back, or those recovering from an injury.

Low impact exercises are also gentler on the body, which means less chance of injury or soreness after working out. 

Muscle Building

Skateboarding isn’t just good for your heart—it’s great for building muscle too.

Riding your board works many different muscles in your legs, arms and core, allowing you to build strength and muscle mass in these areas through regular skating sessions.

This is especially true when you add tricks into the mix; mastering ollies and other more advanced tricks requires significant strength and balance.  

Cardiovascular Health

Skateboarding is also great for your cardiovascular health; skating around town or at the skate park gets your heart rate up and helps strengthen your heart muscle over time.

As with any form of physical activity, this can lead to lower cholesterol levels, improved blood pressure and greater overall fitness levels.

All of these benefits are great motivators to keep skateboarding regularly.

What muscles and joints are most engaged when skateboarding?

When you’re skateboarding, you’re engaging several different muscles and joints that help keep your body in balance and control. Let’s take a closer look at what muscles and joints are most engaged while skateboarding.

Core Muscles

Your core muscles are the foundation of your skateboarding skills.

They provide stability, support, and strength while performing tricks.

Core muscles include your abdominal muscles, back muscles, hip flexors, and glutes.

All these muscles work together to keep you balanced as you move through each trick on your board.

Lower Body Muscles

Skateboarding will also engage your lower body muscles such as your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and shins.

These muscle groups work together to help propel you forward with each push of the board.

As you land a trick or jump off the top of a ramp, these same lower body muscles will help absorb the shock from the impact of landing on the pavement or wood surface below. 

Upper Body Muscles

When performing tricks with your board, upper body strength is also essential for maintaining balance and control throughout each maneuver.

Your chest and shoulder muscles will be engaged as you lean into turns or perform ollies (jumping off the ground).

Your arms will also be engaged as they grip onto the board for stability during tricky maneuvers like kickflips or heelflips (jumping off the ground).

Finally, grip strength is essential to holding onto the board while performing shifts (shifting weight between feet) or slides (sliding across smooth surfaces).  

Benefits of skateboarding for physical fitness:

There are many benefits to skateboarding as a form of physical fitness.

From improved cardiovascular health to increased muscle strength, the benefits are numerous.

Improve Cardiovascular Health

One of the main benefits of skateboarding is that it helps improve cardiovascular health.

When you skateboard, your body is constantly in motion, which means your heart rate increases and your muscles are being worked out.

This helps increase blood flow throughout the body, which helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease or other serious health issues.  

Increase Muscle Strength

Skateboarding can help build muscle strength in both your upper and lower body.

When you push off with each foot while skating, you are using muscles in your legs and hips that wouldn’t normally be used during other forms of exercise like running or cycling.

Additionally, when you perform tricks on a skateboard, you use muscles in your arms and shoulders as well as your core muscles.  

Burn Calories

Another great benefit of skateboarding is that it can help burn calories quickly.

Just 30 minutes of skateboarding can burn up to 200 calories depending on how fast you go and how many tricks you do.

This makes it an ideal form of exercise for those who want to lose weight quickly and efficiently without having to spend hours at the gym doing boring cardio exercises.  

Improves Balance

One of the most important things about learning how to skateboard is learning how to maintain balance on the board while moving at high speeds or pulling off tricks.

This requires a lot of practice, but once mastered it can greatly improve balance, coordination, and agility—all essential skills for any athlete looking for an edge over their competition or just wanting to stay active throughout their day-to-day life.  

Increase Flexibility

Skateboarding also helps increase flexibility by forcing riders to stretch their muscles beyond what they would normally do with regular activities such as walking or jogging.

When performing tricks on a skateboard riders must contort their bodies into positions they aren’t typically used to being in which helps improve overall flexibility as well as a range of motion over time.

Improve Mental Wellbeing

In addition to all the physical benefits mentioned above, skateboarding has also been shown to have positive effects on mental well-being too.

The adrenaline rush experienced when performing tricks on a board has been known to reduce stress levels and help boost moods instantly.

It also encourages creativity since riders are always looking for new ways to express themselves through their boards—which is why there are so many different kinds of tricks out there.

Conclusion

To summarize, skateboarding can be an excellent form of exercise that can have lasting physical and mental health benefits.

Skateboarding is a great way to stay active and increase cardiovascular endurance, not to mention it’s fun.

If you’re looking for a new hobby that will help improve your overall health and well-being, look no further than skateboarding.

Just make sure you follow safety protocols like wearing appropriate gear and skating only in designated areas.

Who knows? Maybe this could become the start of a lifelong passion! So what are you waiting for? Grab your board and hit the streets!