Rollerblading and running are aerobic activities that are beneficial to health. Often, these two activities are intertwined and categorized by many to be the same in terms of health benefits. However, is rollerblading and running actually the same?
In this rollerblading Vs running article, we will explain the benefits and downsides of both activities and determine which is better for health and Weight-loss.
Rollerblading
Rollerblading is an ancient sport that dates back to the 1700s. History suggests that hockey players were the first to use rollerblades, but the sport soon got recognition and famous amongst other professional athletes alongside fitness professionals.
Rollerblading or roller skating is one of the most fun and exciting sports to engage in. It’s a great activity that you can literally do anywhere. Plus, it offers numerous health benefits that you will be wowed at. When compared to other exercise activities like cycling, running, it’s nearly as effective as they are.
Rollerblading can be done at any age, but it’s best to do it when your balance is improved.
What Are the Benefits of Rollerblading?
Let’s look at some benefits of this amazing sport.
Rollerblading Is Easy On the Joints
Rollerblading is easy on the joints. Rollerblading provides you with fluid motion to keep you from damaging your joints, thereby, enabling you to enjoy your movement. According to health experts, rollerblading causes less than 50% impact shock to joints compared to running.
A prosthetic patient can use rollerblading as a low-impact, cardio exercise, and muscle-building therapy.
It’s An Effective Caloric Solution
Rollerblading is also great for calorie burning. A 190-pound man can burn approximately 10 calories every minute of rollerblading. In a hour, you can burn up to 600 calories.
Speed blading or skating vigorously can increase average calories burned in an hour. For example, you could burn over 800 calories in an hour. In the process of rollerblading, respiration rate also increases, improving the overall functioning of your heart and lungs.
Rollerblading Improves Muscular Coordination
Rollerblading improves muscular coordination and balance, which means that you’re less likely to develop back pains, neck pains, or abdominal pains rollerblading. It also enhances agility, strength, and enhances muscle endurance.
What Are the Downsides of Rollerblading?
Rollerblading without any safety gear is dangerous. According to a yearly prospective survey, 86% of serious injuries occur as a result of Rollerblading. About 28% required surgery.
Running
Running is an effective workout for heart and muscles. Running is as old as mankind and the health benefits have since been known. It also comes at no cost, and you don’t need an equipment to run.
What Are the Benefits of Running?
Just like rollerblading, running can be done anywhere. You don’t have to be on an athletic track to run. You can run on the street, any flat and smooth surface, etc.
Never had a thing for running? Here are some of the amazing benefits of running.
- Running Prolongs Your Life
It has been proved numerous times that running prolongs lifespan. According to a 2018 meta-analysis research, running leads to about 25 – 30% drop in mortality rate. This means that non-runners’ chances of dying are increased between 25 – 30%. Running for some minutes weekly will increase your lifespan.
Running paves way for greater cardiovascular fitness, lower cholesterol, reduce body fats, regulate hormone, and lead to stronger bone formation. All these translates to a few years of added life.
- Running Betters Your Sleep
The advantage of exercising is you are able to sleep better than those who do not. Running help you fall asleep more quickly. Recent studies have established a connection between sleep and exercise. The more you exercise, the more you demand quality sleep. Those who exercise less frequent will develop bad sleeping habits.
- Running Helps You lose Weight and Develop Your Muscles
Because you are constantly moving your body, you are directly burning calories. You don’t have to run fast to burn calories. Brisk walking will still burn those fats, but a slower pace.
Mathematically, running burns about 6 calories per minute. In one hour, it’s approximately 360 calories.
Furthermore, running works your core muscles and stabilizes your spine. Plus, running works your leg muscles, hamstrings, calves, quads, etc.
- Running Improves the Body Immunity
Engaging in physical activity has been proven to improve the body immunity, reduce risks of URIs, lower inflammation, and enhance the body’s defense system.
- Running Is Good for Your Cardio
The primary reason why people run is to get their hearts running fine. Running is great for the heart. In fact, running and the heart are inseparable. Running for a five minutes a day will minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Compared to non-runners, active runners can actually live longer and have half the chance of dying from any cardiovascular disease.
Every time you run, your heart rate increases – your heart pumps more blood in a minute than it has ever pumped in three, and this translates to longer life.
- Running Improves Your Mood
Ever seen an unhappy runner? Well, it’s rare! Running has a boosting effect that is similar to the feeling of cannabis. When you run, the brain releases endorphins and endocannabinoids, two brain chemicals that alters your mood and lets you feel good.
If you are angry and want to let out that steam, hit the road for a run. You will surprised by the end result.
- Running Strengthens the Joints
Running for 10 minutes is good for the joints. Studies have explained that running strengthens the joints and helps them to get back stronger. This explains why many runners get involved in the exercise.
- Running Is Good for Meditation
Let’s get away from the physical. Many people don’t know that running also has psychological benefits. Running helps individuals to think and be able to solve problems once they hit the road, running alone. Opting to run can help you return refreshed, energized, and focused from those stressful moments. Running shows that meditation boosts the grey matter and fight anxiety and depression.
- Running Is Good for the Memory
Don’t remember where you kept your phone or what you had for supper? All you need to do is hit the road and start running.
One of surprise benefits of running is it directly affects the neuropathic functions of the brain. Running improves the brain by stimulating the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor that encourages the growth and survival of neurons.
Also, a study at the British Columbia University in 2014 explains that running increases the heart rate, which in turn boosts oxygen supply to the brain and the size of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the center of learning and memory, and this explains why running curb brain issues like Alzheimers.
10. Running Reduces Risk of Many Cancers
A person with good exercise regime including running will have lower risk of developing cancer than non-runners. Even if you do have cancer, it reduces it decreases the likelihood of you developing another type. Not to mention that the side effects are also quenched.
11. Running Regulates Glucose Level and Lowers Risk of Diabetes
High level of glucose lead to diabetes and threaten the lifespan of the affected individual. Running can reduce Type 2 diabetes in adults and also prevent Type 2 diabetes from becoming full-blown.
What Are the Downsides of Running?
As beneficial as running can be, it still has some downsides that you shouldn’t overlook.
Running consistently can lead to inflammation of the joints and can contribute to the early stages of osteoarthritis. This is because your joints would be subjected to wear and tear, and if you don’t consult a doctor, you could be permanently paralyzed.
According to health experts, running/jogging causes 50% more stress to the joints than rollerblading. Running impedes free flow movement of the joints.
Running can also cause back and neck pain if you don’t imbibe the correct posture. For example, running while looking down too much can cause you neck pain. If you lean back further while running, you would be straining your back.
Rollerblading Vs. Running: Which Is Better?
In terms of health benefits and caloric burning, rollerblading is nearly the same as running. Both are great in fat reduction and aid in getting the body in shape.
However, rollerblading tends to burn more calories than running faster. In one hour, you can burn between 300 – 600 calories rollerblading. Using the same duration, you can burn between 200 – 400 calories running.
In terms of aerobic activities, rollerblading isn’t as great as running. While the comfort on moving on wheels is unparalleled, running offers more in terms of aerobic benefits. However, you can increase your aerobic benefits by rollerblading faster for a shorter distance or skating at a slow, steady pace for a longer distance.
In terms of total body workout, you can’t take it way from rollerblading. Rollerblading is a complete aerobic workout involving most of the vital muscles and work them up all at the same time. Your core is strengthen by swinging your arms back and forth during rollerblading. Moving on the wheels itself work up the legs, ankles, and hips. The sideways movement build the muscles and the backward and forward movement develop the calf muscles, quadriceps, ad hamstrings.
With running, you are restricted to strengthening the leg muscles, calf, and improving the heart rate.
Conclusion
Rollerblading and running are exceptional aerobic exercises that will no doubt improve your health and weight-loss. However, they are not technically the same and both have their detriments.
Health-wise, they are indifferent to a great extent. You will get nearly the same result in terms of weight-loss. The differences lie in duration mainly.
