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Indoor vs. Outdoor Exercises
July 21, 2008 |
Because of the Florida heat many of you may be skipping your outdoor runs or
workouts this summer.
Heather Brown is an exercise specialist at the Cape Coral Wellness Center. She
says, “Obviously it’s hot here so if you run in the morning or at night you’re a
little better off.” For some people running and exercising outdoors is more
stimulating than hopping on a treadmill or elliptical machine. “ It’s good to
run outside because you get scenery and you get to see those things and it seems
like it will go by a little faster. You will sweat more probably,” says Heather.
Along with more sweat you’re also more likely to over-exert your muscles on
outside surfaces. “So it’s good for you but it also could be bad depending on
the surface you’re running on or if it’s too hot you may get overheated.”
Heather says most of the exercise equipment people use today is made to support
your joints and muscles. That’s often something that cannot be duplicated by
nature. “The treadmill is good cause when you step on it, it does have a little
bit of give to it, so when you’re stepping on it your knees not just going to be
rigid like it is on the asphalt outside.”
But if the treadmill seems too mundane for you, Heather suggests stimulating
yourself with your surroundings. “You feel like it’s a little harder to run
inside because it’s a little more boring and if you’re watching TV or doing
something or listening to something it’s not so bad.” Other benefits of a
treadmill workout include running on a flat path with no obstacles to trip over
and you lose the downhill portion of climbs which can be the most stressful on
your knees and other joints. |
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