Roller Skating for Health

People of all ages can enjoy the health benefits of roller skating. Chiropractic care could help skaters with their fitness goals.

Variety of Benefits from Roller Skating

Roller skating provides affordable family-friendly, teen, and date night fun. It can be done indoors in a rink or outdoors with inline or quad skates. People can roller skate for pleasure, exercise, or competition. Dan Warner, of Aurora Skate in Illinois, offers “something for everyone, from the little ones to “seasoned” adults”. In addition to DJ and pipe organ music-accompanied activities, Warner has programs at his rink for children with disabilities, homeschoolers, people seeking lessons, morning fitness skate sessions, family nights, “as well as competitive teams for figure and speed skaters and a Women’s Roller Derby league”.¹ Skating is a low-impact activity for the joints because of the fluid motion involved. It incorporates exercise into many of the muscle groups, from the glutes and legs to the core and arms, which are involved in balance. Skating burns as many calories as other forms of aerobic exercise.² The American Heart Association recognizes and recommends skating as an aerobic sport. Aerobic exercise benefits the heart. Skating can improve leg strength and reduce body fat. According to a study, inline skating “causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints compared to running”.³ Roller skating is also “mentally uplifting (and) fun”. It could also be performed when other exercises have become boring, during the winter or other times when outdoor exercising isn’t possible, and it may help people “regain strength after an injury”.⁴

Chiropractic Role in Roller Skating

In order to stay in alignment, and to prevent (and recover from) injuries, regular chiropractic care can be a benefit to roller skaters. In fact, in 1998, a chiropractor, Stephen Press, DC, was the chief health officer of the Federation Internationale de Roller Skating (FIRS). This governing body is in charge of competitive roller skating, which includes artistic skating, speed skating, and hockey. Dr. Press aimed to improve awareness of roller skating’s health benefits.⁵ Some chiropractors enjoy roller skating. Dr. Petra Rutz, DC, for example, is not only a chiropractor, but “skates with the Terminal City Rollergirls as Swiss Army Wife”.⁶ Injuries could occur from skating, including roller derby; therefore some chiropractors treat or even sponsor teams. Outten Chiropractic works with the Carolina Roller Girls to improve mobility and help with any necessary rehabilitation. “Dr. Outten looks at each patient holistically” and not just “back and neck pain”.⁷