A lot of avid exercisers love the
challenge of trying new sports and activities - and are often surprised by how
little their skills in one area translate to another. This phenomenon is the
result of what exercise scientists call "specificity." Starting
slowly and finding other exercisers who are new to the sport or who can help
you modify your training will improve your enjoyment and reduce the chances of
injury.
According to Doug Balzarini,
certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and the health and
fitness spokesperson for Cosmologs.com, this phenomenon is the result of what
exercise scientists call specificity. The specificity of training principle
states that a specific movement must be trained if an individual is to become
proficient at that movement. For example, if someone has a training goal of
improving their tennis serve, the workout routine must include exercises that
mimic that movement. Specificity is not simply a matter of training the
appropriate muscle group or groups, but instead requires training of the actual
movements used in a sport." One of the most famous--and still
ongoing--debates on this topic centers on the use of the bench press to define
strength among football players. Many teams use this exercise to test their
athletes, with some even having thresholds that the athletes must cross to be
eligible to play certain positions. Some coaches, though, don't see how
bench-press performance correlates to on-field success. How often, they might
ask, does an offensive lineman find himself lying flat on his back and lifting
a stationary player off his chest? The important thing is the offensive lineman's
ability to use his upper-body strength while in motion in a standing posture.
In other words, the test is not specific to the actual on-field movements, so
what is its true value?
That said, trying new activities is
the only way to discover new passions. So don't limit yourself simply because
you have not yet trained for a certain sport. Instead, start slowly and find
other exercisers who are new to the sport or who can help you modify your
training. Balzarini additionally points out the importance of seeking
like-minded exercisers, which can be particularly helpful if you are moving to
a new city or just trying something new. "Finding workout partners helps
with exercise adherence, not to mention the social aspects of these
groups." When it comes to starting slowly, Balzarini points out that many
exercisers and athletes get hurt because they assume that their overall
health--and their success in another sport--will mandate success in whatever
physical activity they try. "It may seem boring to start slowly,
especially if you are an avid participant in another sport, but it is essential
if you are to avoid injury. The last thing you want is an injury in a secondary
activity that precludes you from enjoying your primary passion."
Daniel J. Green is a freelance writer
with more than 12 years of experience in health and fitness publishing. He was
certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Lifestyle & Weight
Management Consultant in 2001.
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