Sports Good for Slimming Legs

Keeping trim and fit legs can be a challenging task. Since the legs house the largest muscle groups on the body, keeping them in shape requires a good amount of effort. Sports is long-known to have positive effects on health, but certain sports impact the legs more than others. If you are one of the many people looking for a way to keep your legs in shape, keep reading to find out some of the best sports for your legs.

  1. Track and Field/Cross Country

    • Toned legs are standard in runners of all distances.

      Running is a great way to target not just the overall body, but the legs. Track and field athletes and cross country runners train with running and plyometric activities (jumping and explosive movements). Sprinting burns fat as an anaerobic activity while longer distances are more cardiovascular. Regardless, the maximum use of the lower extremity produces legs with lean muscle and low fat. Running is so effective and healthy that the National Association for Sport and Physical Education gives yearly grants to encourage students to pick up running as a sport.

    Cycling

    • Cycling works primarily the quadricep muscles, but others as well.

      Cycling also provides an intense leg workout. Dr. Lisa Callahan from the Women's Sports Medical Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City notes that cycling provides benefits to the buttocks, thighs and hips. Since cycling depends on the lower extremities to generate movement, stabilizer and smaller muscles such as the calf muscles also get a workout.

    Soccer

    • The mechanics of soccer are heavily beneficial on leg muscles.

      Soccer is another sport that is dependent heavily on the legs. In soccer, you are not just running, but kicking and jumping as well. You change body positions quickly and sprint repeatedly. Since the use of hands (with the exception of the goalie and throw ins) is prohibited, the legs get the bulk of the workout. As a result, soccer players tend to have great looking legs because they work the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles.

    Hockey

    • Hockey training burns fat in the legs and develops muscle.

      A great sport for legs, hockey combines heavy skating with sprints and balance on the ice. Matt Schmitt, facility manager and director of running programs at Acceleration Indiana Sport Training Center notes that "hockey legs" are an integral part of success and leg conditioning. Weight training paired with heavy skating and running will give you great hockey legs. Hockey works the hamstring, quadriceps, calf and abductor muscles.