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Basics
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Resources
Summary
Sports can be a great way to get in shape or stay that way. Having a specific goal can be a great motivator. Physically, you need strength and endurance. Your training will vary with your sport. You would not train the same way for pole vaulting as for swimming. You might, however, cross train. Cross training simply means that you include a variety of fitness activities in your program. Research shows that cross training builds stronger bones.
Remember to listen to your body. If you frequently feel exhausted or you are in pain, you may be overdoing it. Injuries can be the result. And be sure that you use your body and your equipment safely. What you eat and drink is also important. Water is the most important nutrient for active people. Drink it before, during and after workouts.
Related Issues
- 5K Run: 7-Week Training Schedule for Beginners (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Know the Risks (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Stretching Safely and Effectively (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Weight Training: Do's and Don'ts of Proper Technique (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
- FastStats: Exercise or Physical Activity (National Center for Health Statistics)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Sports Medicine
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Italian Cardiological Guidelines (COCIS) for Competitive Sport Eligibility in athletes with...
- Article: Design, Calibration and Morphological Characterization of a Flexible Sensor with Adjustable...
- Article: Medical examinations of professional and amateur athletes at a sports medicine...
- Sports Fitness -- see more articles
Reference Desk
-
Definitions of Health Terms: Fitness
(National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American College of Sports Medicine
-
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also in Spanish
- President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Children
- Feeding Your Child Athlete (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Dehydration (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Female Athlete Triad (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Guide to Eating for Sports (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Women
- Female Athlete Triad (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.