On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women

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.

Start Here

• How Fit Are You? See How You Measure Up (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

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: Attitudes towards chiropractic: a survey of Canadian sport and exercise medicine...
• Article: Critical Evaluation of Curriculum Reporting on Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Websites.
• Article: The Welsh Institute of Performance Science: A Decade of Integrated Knowledge...
• 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