Instead of spending hours squatting in the gym or pounding the pavement in your running shoes, you could get a full-body workout simply by moving a little more like other animals!
Quadrobics is the internet’s latest fitness fad, where you use all four limbs to exercise. Enthusiasts claim it works wonders because it engages so many different muscles – from your shoulders and arms to your legs, back and core.
It sounds impressive, but is it really better than your usual workout? Research on quadrobics is limited, yet we know that exercises using more muscles tend to boost cardiovascular fitness more effectively. Running, for instance, generally beats cycling for fitness gains because it demands effort from more of the body.
By that logic, quadrobics should offer even greater benefits. Oddly, though, one study comparing it to walking found that while it raised heart rate more, it didn’t actually burn extra energy. Both movements use similar muscles, just in different ways.
Even so, crawling, bounding and trotting about on all fours might still be worthwhile. It challenges your shoulders and core in new ways – and, at the very least, guarantees a few laughs along the way!