Question: is skipping as effective as running?

Helen O'Connor answered on 13 Jun 2011:

I guess it depends what you want to skip or run for (to get fit, lose weight, strengthen muscles etc) as this will help work out what would be the most effective for your needs.

When I am in the gym I skip for 5 minutes just to warm up before I hit the weights, and boxers skip as part of their training as it helps them with their footwork, being light on their feet, increases stamina, and helps develop coordination and speed.

Skipping and running are both cardiovascular activities – exercises that use the large muscles like the legs. There are all sorts of benefits of cardio exercise: it helps your heart and lungs get stronger and burns calories too for people who need to lose weight.
As far as I know, 10 minutes of vigorous skipping would burn more calories than 10 minutes of jogging, but it will always depend upon the effort, or intensity you put in, and this is the same for most types of exercise. Intensity is usually measured by your heart rate but I will need to leave it to the other scientists to tell you what the best intensity is.

What’s important is also what you prefer to do because if you enjoy something you are more likely to do it.