~ Sports & Outdoors ~ How Roller Skating Can Help Overall HealthBenefits of a Strong Core

NATIONWIDEA little recreation never hurt anyone. In fact, the activities people choose to engage in during their free time can promote and safeguard their longterm health.

Roller skating is a recreational activity often associated with children, but it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. And though roller skating devotees may already know how beneficial it is for their bodies, novices might be surprised to learn just how much lacing up their skates can do for their overall health.

Balance

Roller skating requires pushing off and forces individuals to rely on their gluteus maximus. The online medical resource Healthline notes that the function of the gluteus maximus is to extend and laterally rotate the hip. When glute muscles collaborate as a person roller skates, that improves body stability, helping people to maintain better balance, even when they’re not skating.

Your Core

The Mayo Clinic notes that core exercises train the muscles in this area of your body to work in harmony, ultimately leading to improved stability. When roller skating, individuals rely on their core muscles, making this a core-friendly exercise. If improved stability isn’t enough to get people to lace up their skates, it’s worth nothing that the Harvard Medical School indicates that a strong, flexible core can benefit the body in numerous ways. For example, low back pain sufferers may be interested to know that exercises that promote well-balanced, resilient core muscles can help to prevent low back pain.

Weight Loss

Anyone who has ever been roller skating likely knows that it’s easy to break a sweat once those skates are laced up. In fact, Healthline notes that a 160- pound individual who skates at a consistent intensity for 30 minutes can expect to burn around 267 calories. Burning calories can help people lose weight, making roller skating a worthy activity for individuals who want to add some fun physical activity to their weight loss routines.

It may have been a while since adults last laced up a pair of skates. But roller skating can be a great activity for anyone looking to get healthy and have a little fun along the way.

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~ Puzzles ~

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25. Rock guitarist’s tool bet

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NATIONWIDE -

Fitness professionals recognize the importance of a well-balanced workout. Much like a diet that includes foods from each of the major food groups can provide the balance of nutrients and vitamins bodies need to achieve optimal health, a workout routine that includes an assortment of strength and cardiovascular exercises is the recipe for a fit and healthy body. Core exercises are a vital component of a well-rounded workout. Core exercises can help individuals build sculpted abdominal muscles, and while that’s a goal for many core devotees, the benefits of core exercises extend well beyond the cosmetic.

Build a Strong, Healthy Back

The International Association For the Study of Pain reports that lower back pain has been the leading cause of years lived with disability across the globe since 1990. Lower back pain can be debilitating, but core exercises strengthen muscles in the core, including those in the back. The Mayo Clinic notes that core exercises train muscles in the pelvis, lower back, hips, and abdomen to work together, creating greater balance and stability and contributing to a healthy back.

Make daily life easier

Individuals may not realize it, but their cores play a vital role in performing a great number of daily tasks. Core muscles are activated when doing everything from taking out the trash to getting dressed. If those muscles are weak, the cumulative effect of that weakness can add up and contribute to aches, pains and other health problems. Strong core muscles make daily tasks easier and less taxing on the body, providing both short- and long-term benefits.

Become a Better Athlete

Core training has long been a key component of professional athletes’ exercise regimens, and it’s just as beneficial to amateur athletes as well. The Harvard Medical School notes that a strong core powers a host of athletic activities, including golf,

See CORE on page 31 . . .

CLUES DOWN

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3. Part-time employee

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6. Gains possession of

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34. Disallow

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40. Crimson

42. Actress Ryan

43. Adherents of a main branch of Islam

47. Accomplished American president

49. Side of a landform facing an advancing glacier

50. Sheep breed

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53. Broadway actress Daisy

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ANSWERS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 14

CORE from page 30 tennis, cycling, running, swimming, and team sports like baseball and volleyball. A strong core also benefits outdoor enthusiasts who love to kayak and hike difficult terrain.

Sculpt Abdominals

Wells High School

Varsity Baseball

May 1, 3-2 (L) @ Fryeburg

April 29, 3-0 (W) vs. Freeport

April 28, 10-1 (W) @ Traip

April 26, 5-2 (W) vs. York

Varsity Softball

April 28, 16-5 (W) @ Traip

April 26, 18-1 (L) vs. York

April 25, 14-5 (W) vs. Freeport

Varsity Boys Lacrosse

April 29, 15-8 (W) vs. Noble

April 26, 11-8 (W) @ Freeport

Varsity Girls Lacrosse

April 28, 7-5 (W) vs. Waynflete

April 25, 8-2 (W) @ Traip

York High School

Varsity Baseball

May 1, 11-4 (L) @ Freeport

April 28, 10-3 (L) @ Fryeburg

April 26, 5-2 (L) @ Wells