Which Of These Physical Activities Is The Safest & Most Beneficial?

Today, we’re looking at the three most popular forms of cardiovascular exercise: running, cycling, and swimming. Which Of These Physical Activities Is The Safest & Most Beneficial for you to try?

If you want to be healthy, you need to strike a balance between following a good diet and exercising regularly. Being physically active is so important as it encourages your body to be healthier, reducing your chances of many diseases and health conditions. 

You can do so many things to stay active - like joining a gym or working out at home - but there are a few common physical activities you may consider. 

Which Of These Physical Activities Is The Safest & Most Beneficial?

Running

Running is the most accessible physical activity because all you need are some running shoes, and you’re good to go. Anyone can run anywhere, and it does provide you with a great cardiovascular workout, improving your lung capacity over time. It’s also a great way to strengthen your leg and core muscles, which is always good. 

In terms of safety, running does pose the biggest risk of injuries. This is because there are so many variables - like uneven surfaces when you run. It’s so easy to slip over or twist your ankle and end up seriously hurt.

Sure, you can mitigate the risks by running on a treadmill, but this exercise is also harsh on your joints. Regular running could lead to long-term ankle, knee, and hip problems - so it’s probably not the best thing to do all the time. 

Cycling

Next, you have cycling. A really fantastic way to get strong legs, and super impressive for training your cardiovascular system. Most people can cycle for longer than they can run - and you have the benefit of taking the load off your joints. So, it’s already looking like a great exercise. 

If you do cycle, it might be best to do so on a static bike at home or in a gym. Cycling outside carries many of the risks as running, if not more. You have to cycle on the road in most instances, meaning you have cars to deal with.

Cycling indoors on a static bike should lower the risks of you being involved in complex personal injury cases. Aside from this, sitting on a bike might lead to some hip pain if you do it for too long, or too often. 

Swimming

Ultimately, swimming is the safest and most beneficial of the three activities. 

Why? Because there is no strain on your joints, on force pounding through them, and you aren’t forced to sit down and keep your hip muscles all bunched up and tight. Instead, you’re in the water so it’s easier on your joints, yet there’s constant resistance at all times. It offers a full-body workout, and provided you are in a swimming pool, it is totally safe. 

Does this mean you shouldn’t run or cycle? No, you can still do all three of these activities to keep fit. You should just be more aware that constantly running or riding a bike might lead to long-term joint problems or injuries. Instead, do them every now and then, while swimming is something you can’t really do too much.