An hour on the track or bench press: which workout is healthier?

Physical activity is essential for the body. It helps to prevent many diseases, helps to keep the body in tone, improves the psycho-emotional state. No wonder that fitness clubs are extremely popular today. Beginners often wonder what kind of training to choose: cardio or strength training? In fact, it is not easy to give an unambiguous answer.

Together with Mikhail Ryazantsev, surgeon, orthopedist and traumatologist of the European Medical Center, candidate of medical sciences, we will find out how cardio and strength training affect health.

How cardio training differs from strength training?

First of all, it is necessary to define the differences between strength training and cardio training. If you are just about to join a gym, it can be difficult to understand all the subtleties.

Mikhail: All loads are divided into cardio and strength. Walking, running and cross-country skiing are the main types of cardio exercises. Strength training is working with weights or your own body weight.

Cardio and strength training help to achieve different goals.

Mikhail: Cardio training increases the endurance of the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole, while strength training is aimed at increasing muscle mass and, in fact, strength. Losing weight with strength training is slower due to the increase in muscle mass, which has more weight.

Nevertheless, the doctor emphasizes the common feature between the different types of training: they lead to the burning of fat tissue by increasing metabolism.

Which workouts are more injury prone?

There is a myth that cardio training is much less traumatic than strength training. In fact, such exercises can also be harmful to your health if the technique is not correct.

Mikhail: Frequent axial and impact loading during running can affect the large joints of the lower limbs, lead to stress fractures of tubular bones.

At the same time, the expert notes that both types of loads – strength and cardio – can be accompanied by injuries.

To avoid injuries during cardio workouts, the doctor recommends:

• follow the technique of execution;
• choose the right shoes, which will help to redistribute the load and will be well cushioned.

Mikhail: Strength training also carries a number of dangers if the rules are not followed. Heavy weights and improper execution of exercises can lead to damage and even tearing of tendons.

Before going to the gym, it is necessary to understand all the risks that can arise from violations of technique during exercise. On their own, it is difficult for a beginner to competently perform exercises, so at first it is worth using the services of a trainer.

What type of training to choose?

The doctor believes that the most beneficial for health is the combination of two types of exercise.

Mikhail: It is necessary to maintain a balance between cardio and strength training under the guidance of a competent trainer who can put the right technique.

The doctor also urges to pay attention to pain sensations during exercise. Pain is a stopping factor, so if you feel unpleasant, painful sensations, you should stop training.