Skip your way to good health

MANY women used to jump rope as kids, spending hours in the backyard trying to outskip their friends. And while most of us did this simply for fun, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, general practitioner at Agape Family Medical Clinic, Port Antonio, says that skipping is far more beneficial for women than shedding a few pounds.

“There are many benefits to skipping. It is an aerobic exercise, and as such positively impacts the respiratory system, improves the heart rate, improves the heart tone, improves the muscles in the bone, and your joints improve as a result,” Dr Bloomfield said.

He said that skipping, as with any exercise in general, encourages liberating certain positive chemicals in the flow of circulation, which destroys some of those toxins and poisons that are in the blood itself which could lead to cancer. Since women are nine times more likely to suffer from circulation problems than men, particularly because women generally take up more sitting and less physically demanding jobs, skipping encourages an increase of blood flow around the body, which reduces the possibility of heart attacks.

“The improvement in circulation improves the muscle tone of the heart and the general ability of the heart to deal with an increase in movement and flow of circulation so that the heart becomes stronger, better, and more toned. And it happens all across the body — just about every one of the tissues — kidneys, liver, spleen, all the organs of the body respond in like manner.”

A significant medical issue which affects women, especially as they age, is the bone condition osteoporosis. In women with osteoporosis, the bones become brittle and so the risk of breakage increases.

“Skipping improves bone density and strengthens bones. Bones strengthen since skipping improves the turnover time and bone formation, and so the bone becomes stronger and firmer and can resist osteoporosis, arthritis and any other bone weakness that is there,” Dr Bloomfield shared.

Gynaecological complaints are also directly and positively impacted by skipping. Dr Bloomfield explained that many of these conditions are exacerbated by obesity, which some studies show affect more women than men.

“Skipping helps with many gynaecological problems like menstrual periods, the cramps, the heavy flows, and women going through menopause, for example, can benefit from exercise not only because it will help them to lose weight, but women indicate that they feel fewer cramps, some none at all. Women who are obese or overweight tend to get fibroids, have bowel disorders, have breast cancer, and so you might want to start exercising. Skipping might be your best option because it is inexpensive and you can do it almost anywhere,” Dr Bloomfield explained.

He said other benefits of skipping are that it is best for women of all ages since it is not a very high-end impact kind of exercise so there is less damage. It is also modifiable – you can go at the pace you want, you can manage the intensity, and you can adapt to it very easily.

Gisel Harrow, personal trainer and fitness expert at Express Fitness, Liguanea, says that all you need is 10-15 minutes of jumping rope every day. In addition to all the other medical benefits to be had with skipping, Harrow explains that it also builds stamina and performance since the lung capacity increases with exercise and provides nutrients to the skin. Cells are rejuvenated and toxins are released from the body with exercise.

She also advised that for best results with skipping, you should incorporate some resistance training and a balanced diet to achieve your fitness goals.