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.
- Exercise Therapy Best Way to Treat Groin Pain(04/15/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82975.html
- Marathoners Go the Distance on Heart Health(04/10/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82800.html
- Sports May Ease Activity Decline during Teen Years(04/08/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82725.html
- 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 Diet(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/carbohydrate-loading/MY00223/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- 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
- Important Vision Skills for Sports(American Optometric Association) - http://www.aoa.org/x5337.xml
- 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
- NATA: New Guidelines for Diabetic Athletes(National Athletic Trainers' Association) - http://www.nata.org/newsrelease/archives/000612.htm
- Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Are They a Risk to Your Health?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/performance-enhancing-drugs/HQ01105/METHOD=print
- Selecting and Effectively Using a Health/Fitness Facility(American College of Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Brochures2&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8100
- Stretching: Focus on Flexibility(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stretching/HQ01447/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
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Physical Fitness(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Physical+Fitness%22
- Article: Effect of long-term endurance and strength training on metabolic control... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19327425&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: American Dietetic Association Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19278047&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19278045&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
- Sports Medicine Clinic Directory(McGraw-Hill Companies) - http://www.physsportsmed.com/index.php?page=resource_clinic_directory
- 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
- FastStats: 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
- 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/