- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to a two-year term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was involved in medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a Web site guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to Mayo Clinic's "Fitness for EveryBody" book.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Fitness basics (4)
- Exercise and illness: Should you exercise when you're sick?
- Heart rate: What's normal?
- Body fat analyzers: How accurate are they?
- see all in Fitness basics
Aerobic exercise (10)
- Weighted hula hoops: Exercise gimmick or good idea?
- Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
- Air pollution and exercise: Is outdoor exercise risky?
- see all in Aerobic exercise
Strength training (10)
- Weightlifting belt: Do I need one?
- Sit-ups: Is it OK to stabilize my feet?
- Flat stomach: Can wearing a girdle tighten abdominal muscles?
- see all in Strength training
Sports nutrition (4)
- 'Natural' steroids: Are they safe?
- Insulin: Can it boost athletic performance?
- Energy drinks: OK for athletes?
- see all in Sports nutrition
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Question
Weighted hula hoops: Exercise gimmick or good idea?
I'd like to vary my exercise routine. Are weighted hula hoops for real — or just an exercise gimmick?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Weighted hula hoops, which are available at most sporting goods stores, are bigger and heavier than traditional hula hoops. Although there's little research on the effects of weighted hula hoops, any type of hula hooping can be an aerobic activity — especially if you're able to hoop for 10 minutes or longer at a time. You can use weighted hula hoops or traditional hula hoops as part of an overall fitness program or simply as a fun way to burn calories or add variety to your workout routine.
If you choose to try hooping, use a hoop that's the right size for you. Peter McCall, a spokesperson with the American Council on Exercise, says the hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and chest when it's resting vertically on the ground. The weight of the hoop is up to you. The smaller and lighter the hoop, the more energy it takes to keep the hoop going. The bigger and heavier the hoop, the easier it is to keep going — and the more likely you'll be able to hoop for longer periods of time.
To get started, hold the hoop against your back, slightly above your waist. Put one foot ahead of the other, then push the hoop around your waist — shifting your weight back and forth from one foot to the other to keep the hoop moving.
You may want to avoid using weighted hula hoops or traditional hula hoops if you have a history of back problems.
Next questionElliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
- Cluff T, et al. Kinetics of hula hooping: An inverse dynamics analysis. Human Movement Science. 2008;27:622.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 16, 2009.
- McCall P (expert opinion). American Council on Exercise, San Diego, Calif. April 3, 2009.
