Want to move better? Get faster? How about lose body fat and boost your metabolism? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to start implementing sled training into your weekly regimen.
The use of sled training isn’t a new methodology or a recent fad; it’s been around for many years especially in the athletic training world. Maybe more recent than not, has been the integration of this type of training in commercial gyms and fitness facilities (especially if there is a turfed area available). The sled comes in a variety of sizes and typically can be pushed, dragged and pulled. With variations like the prowler sled, you can add a significant amount of weight to make this type of training even more challenging on the body.
There are many benefits of sled training that reach far beyond the world of a competitive athlete:
- Improves functional strength: Sled training requires several muscles and joints to work in unison as well as promotes core control. You’ll improve your ability to push and pull as well, which are two movements that we use on a regular basis.
- Improves acceleration: Probably one of the biggest benefits of sled training for athletes is the boost in acceleration that can occur. Athletes need to be able to improve their velocity or rate at which they speed up and sled training has proven more-than worthy in this avenue.
- HIIT-savvy: We’ve all heard how amazing HIIT is. So if you are one of HIIT’s fans, sled training is an awesome option for you to use. It’s high-intensity (you’ll know what I mean after just a few seconds of effort), is ideal for interval use and burns a significant amount of calories in a short period of time as a result. I like using the sled to sprint with instead of a treadmill or track because it isn’t as intense on my knee joints.
- Offers variety: We are bound to hit a plateau if we only use the same pieces of equipment or training approach. Sled training offers benefits by giving variety to your regimen and an awesome shock to your muscles!
- Boosts conditioning: One of my favorite benefits behind sled training is that it helps elevate your conditioning. You can adjust the weight and intensity to catapult you into anaerobic training within just a few seconds of effort. And you won’t need to spend that much time pushing or pulling the sled to reap the benefits either.
I’ve often said that if you want to look like an athlete, it’s time to train like an athlete. And this means integrating things like sled training into your weekly regimen. Get ready for major improvements in your physique and overall fitness as a result!
