The past decade’s strangest fitness fads…

It seems that a year doesn’t pass by without a new fitness craze entering all our gyms and exercise classes. Join us as we remember some of the past decade’s strangest fitness fads…

Barefoot jogging

A collection of runners made the decision to swap their running shoes for a type of running ‘sock’ in 2010. Those who supported the fitness fad said that running in trainers or running shoes can make you more prone to injury, as it encourages running with unnatural form. It’s also said that running barefoot strengthens the tiny muscles found in feet, ankles and legs which can also reduce the risk of injury.

There are still supporters of the trend, though it’s not as popular as a few years ago. Experts have said that switching to barefoot running without properly transitioning makes you prone to injuries. Only try this one if you’re willing to practise walking barefoot before running.

High-heel workouts

Exercising in high heels has been found to offer various benefits. Research has suggested that even walking in high-heels (below three inches) can shape the calves and improve muscle tone and shape.

Wear high heels and then lunge, squat or lift small weights and your balance can also be enhanced. It hasn’t been fully determined whether wearing high-heels for a workout can result in weight loss, but it can help you learn how to walk better in them.

Hot barre

‘Hot barre’ is a fitness fad which first became popular across Los Angeles and New York. This trend involves doing classical ballet moves in a room heated to 40 degrees, and it took off around 2015. Advocates of the fad say that hot barre encourages you to gain a deeper stretch while helping you release toxins and feel detoxed. Then, as the body has to work hard to cool itself down, you can expect your metabolism to boost and number of burnt calories to increase.

‘Hot yoga’ is a similar class that is growing in popularity at the moment. This is where classic mindfulness movements are performed in a heated pod — a guaranteed sweat stimulator whilst simultaneously helping to alleviate shoulder pain.

Plogging

It was actually only earlier this year that plogging became a fitness trend. However, some people haven’t looked back since. It’s a Scandinavian-based trend that encourages people to pick up litter while out running — improving health and the environment.

The word jogging along with the Swedish phrase ‘plocka upp’ — meaning pick up — is where the term ‘plogging’ originates. The exercise part comes from running with intermittent squatting and lunging so you can pick up rubbish from the ground. It is an effective calorie burner too — fitness app Lifesum estimates that a typical user will burn 288 calories from 30 minutes of plogging.

There’s been a wave of activity on social media regarding plogging too. Head to Facebook or Instagram and don’t be surprised to see images of people in running gear with plastic bags ready to fill with litter. Could we see this trend become widespread sometime soon?

We can only guess what the strange but popular fitness fad of 2019 and beyond will be…

Voltarol, who can help manage shoulder pain by offering their expertise and through the use of their products, researched and created this article.