Skating as a form of exercise is as beneficial as running or cycling, according to Dr. Carl Foster, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and coordinator of sports medicine and sports science for the United States Speed Skating Team.

 

A fitness study completed for Rollerblade, Inc. in 1991 measured how inline skating compares as a form of exercise to running or cycling, in terms of caloric expenditure, as well as aerobic and anaerobic benefits. Inline Skating Calories Burned Per Minute Oxygen uptake, heart rate and blood rate were measured in eleven volunteers, all competent inline skaters, during four different workouts: running, cycling, 30 minutes of steady inline skating and an incremental inline skating workout, in which the participants skated one mile four times at progressively increasing velocities, paced by a bicycle. Interval skating, (alternating one minute of hard skating in a tuck position with one minute of easy skating in an upright position) expends 450 calories in 30 minutes.

 

Caloric expenditure
Running and cycling expend 350 and 360 calories respectively, at a heart rate of 148 beats per minute.
In general, the faster/harder one skates, the faster one burns calories.

 

Aerobic benefits
Inline skating was found to be a better aerobic workout than cycling, but not as good as running.
Inline skaters can increase their aerobic workout by skating harder or skating uphill.

 

Anaerobic benefits
Anaerobic benefits determine how well a workout strengthens and develops muscles. Unlike cycling, inline skating develops hamstring muscles. And unlike running, inline skating is a low-impact activity. Muscles in the upper arms and shoulders are also developed when arms are swung vigorously while skating.

 

Less Joint Impact
Inline skating, when compared to running, causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints, according to a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, thus demonstrating that inline skating is less harmful to the joints than the higher impact sport of running.