Sports can be a great way to get in shape or stay that way. Having a specific goal can be a great motivator. Physically, you need strength and endurance. Your training will vary with your sport. You would not train the same way for pole vaulting as for swimming. You might, however, cross train. Cross training simply means that you include a variety of fitness activities in your program. Research shows that cross training builds stronger bones.
Remember to listen to your body. If you frequently feel exhausted or you are in pain, you may be overdoing it. Injuries can be the result. And be sure that you use your body and your equipment safely. What you eat and drink is also important. Water is the most important nutrient for active people. Drink it before, during and after workouts.
- Bladder Problems Keep Women Out of Sports(09/29/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69803.html
- Heart Attack Risk Rises with Intensity of Exercise(09/17/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69379.html
- Training May Spur Airway Damage in Elite Swimmers(09/17/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69370.html
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Statement on the U. S. Transplant Games
(07/11/2008, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2008/niaid-11.htm
- More News on Sports Fitness http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_s.html#sportsfitness
- Pre-Participation Physical Examinations(American College of Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.acsm.org/AM/TextTemplate.cfm?Section=Search§ion=Brochures&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=262
- Carbohydrate Loading: Can Your Diet Boost Your Athletic Performance?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/carb-loading/HQ00385/METHOD=print
- Fast Facts about Sports Nutrition(President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports) - http://www.fitness.gov/fastfacts.htm
- Sports Nutrition(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00370
- Getting in Shape for Winter Sports(President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports) - http://www.fitness.gov/getting_in_shape.htm
- Golf Swing: Get It in Shape(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/golf/HO00075/METHOD=print
- Hot Topics in Sports Training: Advice for Recreational and Elite Runners from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZUY2R7OKD&sub_cat=381
- Athletic Shoes(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00318
- Exercise/Fitness: Motivation through Goal Setting(National Center on Physical Activity and Disability) - http://www.ncpad.org/exercise/fact_sheet.php?sheet=80
- How to Choose a Fitness Center(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/fitness/SM00027/METHOD=print
- Know Your Sports Shoes(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) - http://www.aofas.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=199
- Sports and Vision(American Optometric Association) - http://www.aoa.org/x5277.xml
- Stretching: Focus on Flexibility(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stretching/HQ01447/METHOD=print
- Taking Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Are You Risking Your Health?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/performance-enhancing-drugs/HQ01105/METHOD=print
- Weight Training: Do's and Don'ts of Proper Technique(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/weight-training/SM00028/METHOD=print
- Weight/Resistance Training(National Center on Physical Activity and Disability) - http://www.ncpad.org/exercise/fact_sheet.php?sheet=20
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Physical Fitness(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Physical+Fitness%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Reduced disability and mortality among aging runners: a 21-year longitudinal... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18695077&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Asthma and athletics. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18678347&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Exercise and other indirect challenges to demonstrate asthma or exercise-induced... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18678339&tool=MedlinePlus
- Sports Fitness -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=sports[majr]+AND+(physical+fitness[mh]+OR+nutrition+physiology[mh]+OR+exercise[mh]+OR+dietary+supplements[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Directory of Athletes with Disabilities Organizations(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) - http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/athletes.htm
- Find an AOSSM Sports Medicine Specialist(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/membership/membersearch.aspx
- American College of Sports Medicine - http://www.acsm.org/
- National Center on Physical Activity and Disability - http://www.ncpad.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports - http://www.fitness.gov/
- ACSM Fit Society Page(American College of Sports Medicine) - http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=ACSM_Fit_Society_Page
- FASTATS: Exercise/Physical Activity(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/exercise.htm
- Children and Sports: Choices for All Ages(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/fitness/SM00057/METHOD=print
- Feeding Your Child Athlete(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/feed_child_athlete.html
- Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/hate_sports.html
- Flexibility Exercises for Young Athletes(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00038
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Sports Physicals(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/safety/sports_physicals.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/sano/sports_physicals_esp.html
- Strength Training: OK for Kids When Done Correctly(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/strength-training/HQ01010/METHOD=print
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Taking the Pressure Off Sports Competition(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/fit/pressure.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/sentimientos/pressure_esp.html
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Dehydration(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/dehydration.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/seguridad/dehydration_esp.html
- Female Athlete Triad(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/triad.html
- Guide to Eating for Sports(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/eatnrun.html
- Handling Sports Pressure and Competition(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/sports_pressure.html
- Performance-Enhancing Drugs and Your Teen Athlete(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/performance-enhancing-drugs/SM00045/METHOD=print
- Sports Physicals(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/exercise/sports/sports_physicals.html
- Stretching(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/stretching.html
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Fitness & Bone Health for Women: The Skeletal Risk of Overtraining(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/fitness_bonehealth.asp
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Sports and Women Athletes: The Female Athlete Triad(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/menstrual/599.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/reproductive/menstrual/599.printerview.html
- Anabolic Steroids - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anabolicsteroids.html
- Exercise and Physical Fitness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html
- Exercise for Children - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforchildren.html
- Exercise for Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforseniors.html
- Sports Injuries - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportsinjuries.html
- Sports Safety - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportssafety.html
- Fitness and Exercise - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fitnessandexercise.html
- Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Sports Fitness is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/