Benefits of Cross-training & Sport-specific Training
Cross-training is defined as the use of multiple modes of exercise to produce fitness. Simply put, it is the incorporation of many forms of activity
in your life, and more specifically, in your exercise routine. The goal of cross-training is to develop a proficiency in all of the components of fitness. In practical terms this means that someone who loves to
run for aerobic fitness will also engage in other fitness activities in order to have a comprehensive approach to their health and fitness.
Someone who cross-trains may swim and run for aerobic fitness and weight lift and do calisthenics and body weight exercises for strength. He may use functional fitness moves to improve balance and coordination. The development of a diverse set of skills and abilities, as well as improved conditioning, is achieved by incorporating these different modes of activity. So we see cross-training results in a more complete development of health and fitness.
Here are some specific benefits that come from integrating many types of exercise into the training routine:
- Increased fitness
- Decreased risk of injury
- Greater enjoyment of exercise
- Ability to train through injury
- Fewer training plateaus
- Minimized risk of and better management of disease
While it is clear that cross-training is an ideal means for improving fitness, there is still credit that needs to be given to sport-specific exercise.
Sport-specific exercise focuses training on the unique skills required for a sport rather than emphasizing exercise variety that aims to improve general fitness. Sport-specific training is valuable and in fact critical to excelling in a sport. This is because it involves repeating the precise training techniques that develop the skills needed for the sport. Take for example the basketball player who spends hours practicing his shots. He excels because of the consistent efforts he makes to develop proficiency in his sport, and thereby gains tremendous sport-specific fitness.
From this example we see that sport-specific training has a definite application to improving fitness. We've seen that cross-training is ideal for developing overall fitness, and therefore it has great application in sports too. An athlete that incorporates sport-specific training into their cross-training routine gains both the specific talents needed for the sport as well as great overall fitness. In this way he's getting the "best of both worlds".
So the take-away is this: incorporate as many different types of activity into your life as possible, including sport-specific drills for athletes, and you'll be on the track to optimal health and fitness.