Is the trend of walking on all fours like an animal good for your fitness?

Instead of wasting hours squatting at the gym or cruising miles of sidewalk in running shoes, you can instead get all the benefits of training by simply moving a little more like other animals.

“Quadrobics” is the latest fitness trend on the Internet. This unconventional training method involves using all four limbs during training. Proponents claim that it is a very beneficial form of exercise due to a large number of muscle groups that he uses. Running on all fours engages the muscles of the shoulders, arms, arms, as well as the legs, back and torso.

It sounds good in theory, but is it more effective than regular training?

Although there is limited research on quad-biking, research shows that the bigger it is amount of muscles used during training, the more benefits you will experience for your fitness and cardiovascular health.

For example, studies comparing cycling and running found that running leads to: greater increase in cardiorespiratory fitness than cycling. This is probably due to the different number of muscles used during specific activities.

Cycling focuses mainly on the legs and lower body, while running involves more of the whole body. From running places require on more muscles, this may explain why it leads to greater fitness gains.

Quadrobics, which apparently uses almost all of them major muscle groupsshould therefore lead to greater benefits than running or cycling.

However, when one study compared quad worms to a standard walking program, the quad worm seemed odd it didn’t seem to use any more energy – despite a larger increase in heart rate. This finding likely comes down to the fact that both activities use the same muscle groups, but to different degrees.

While quad worming doesn’t necessarily seem better than walking, it may have other health benefits.

During quadrobatic training, you may use different muscles than during more conventional training. For example, compared to running, the quad worm puts more emphasis on the arm muscles but requires less calf work.

This suggests that quadrobics may have potential benefits in terms of flexibility and balance. One study examined the effects of an eight-week training plan on quadrobics in young people.

They found that compared to the control group (who performed two 60-minute sessions of typical physical activity), the quad worm group had greater improvement shoulder flexibility and balance.

Meanwhile, although quad exercise does engage many muscles in the body, there is currently no evidence to suggest that it is more beneficial than strength training in terms of improving strength.

But something that cannot be missed is the novelty of this exercise. One of the advantages of quadrobics is the playfulness of the exercise. This can have a positive effect on your mood and help relieve stress.

Many groups describe quadrobics as “animal movement training” because it encourages us to adopt animal poses and attitudes. Because many believe that going to the gym can become a thing uninspiring and boring over time, quadrobics may be the solution to this problem.

If you want to try quadrobics, two popular exercises If trot and gallop.

While trotting, raise your right arm and left leg simultaneously, then your left arm and right leg. You will create a diagonal movement. When galloping, start with your legs together and then land on your hands. This exercise can be performed continuously or as repeated high-intensity bouts interspersed with recovery periods.

For those who are just starting this practice, it is best to start slowly, walking on all fours, before moving on to these exercises. This is because there may be a risk of injury with these types of movements as much of the impact force is transferred to the elbows and wrists.

The potential risk of fracture or sprain is even greater in older people who have brittle bones and immobilized joints, and in people who take certain prescription medications – such as: corticosteroids.

The fitness benefits of walking like an animal may not be greater than those seen with more conventional exercises, but the novelty of quad-dogging can provide a starting point for health and fitness – especially for those who may find conventional training boring.