When paddle boarding comes to mind, most people think of it as a recreational activity that they could have fun enjoying with their kids. But many of you might not know that paddle boarding is very good exercise and burns lots of calories. So many of you might be wondering if it is such a good workout then what muscles does paddle boarding work?
The Muscles Paddle Boarding Works:
Well on most occasions, paddle boarding will be providing a full body workout!
But, what muscles does paddle boarding work? To answer this question, we will take a closer look at the different muscles which are being worked while you are enjoying yourself out on the water.
Abdominal Muscles
Paddle boarding will help you to improve your core in the long run. The abdominal muscles within your system start functioning constantly once you get up on the paddle board and start paddling and propelling it in the forward direction.
And this will become even better once you need to face more challenges while you are out on the water. You have to work harder for maintaining a perfect balance as well as an upright position while the water goes on rocking the paddle board. For this reason, it is appropriate for making your tummy flat and becoming strong in the core overall.
Biceps and Triceps
It is a fact that paddle boarding will also help to improve the muscles in the arms. While paddling, you are going to work the biceps and also the triceps. The triceps are positioned on the rear part of your upper arms. They will be working once your arms are straightened while paddling.
On the other hand, the biceps are located on the front of your arm. These will likewise work hard while you are paddling. In fact, your muscles will work harder in tougher water conditions. Thus, paddle boarding is surely a fantastic workout for the arm along with other muscles.
Shoulders Muscles
The rotator cuff present in the shoulders works in a couple of ways. First, it helps to maintain the position of the humerus and the glenoid cavity such that your shoulder joints are able to function properly. Secondly, it provides enhanced stability to your shoulder.
There are several muscles in the rotator cuff, namely, the teres minor, the subscapularis, the supraspinatus, and the infraspinatus. The shoulders are going to function as anchors connecting the upper arms to the back. Although the shoulders do not drive the force of the strokes made by you, they allow your upper body to move as required.
You will be getting a remarkable shoulder workout while paddle boarding as you need to pull, lift, and dip the paddle constantly. This might prove to be somewhat tough for you in the beginning, particularly if you are a newbie. However, maneuvering will become easier with the paddle once you start building up strength in the shoulders.
Back Muscles
While you are propelling forward during paddle boarding, you will also be working the back muscles. One of these muscles is the trapezius which is usually called traps. These muscles will be required for twisting and moving your arms and also maintaining your shoulder positioning. Apart from this, these will likewise allow you to shrug and move the neck as well as the head. The trapezius is positioned around your shoulder blade and will be able to rotate, retract, elevate, and depress as and when required.
One more back muscle that will be used while paddle boarding is the latissimus dorsi and it is also called the lat muscles. These help to attach the vertebral column to the upper extremities of your body. It is amongst the larger muscles of the back and can perform adductions. This particular movement helps you to lift one of your limbs towards the midline of your body.
Leg Muscles
It will not be possible for you to perform paddle boarding without reinforcing the legs simultaneously. This will be truer in case you are performing a stand-up paddle boarding because of the fact that you have to maintain your balance using the leg muscles and the core. Your calves and thighs are going to become more toned and stronger while you are moving forward. Because of this, paddle boarding will be ideal for you in case you prefer working out your leg muscles.
Paddle Boarding Is A Full Body Workout
Generally speaking, paddle boarding can be considered to be a low-intensity and low-stress workout for the entire body which is suitable for everyone and burns lots of calories. If you want to learn about how many calories paddle boarding burns, check out our blog “How Many Calories Does Paddle Boarding Burn?”.
Low-impact implies that it is a fantastic activity for recovery for all those with proper fitness while offering a healthy way of working out for those who are not that fit.
Paddle boarding is great exercise which is easily accessible for the anyone out there. But, it might require you to work harder than you might have thought, and your legs and core will be working constantly for balancing you against the water.
Even though you might experience soreness in the initial stages, you will slowly become familiar with the sport. The involvement of a large number of muscles will imply that no part of the body will be subjected to lots of stress at any given time. This helps to make paddle boarding a fantastic group activity, and you will also be able to take your pet along with you.
