If you’re looking to workout or add a more dynamic exercise to your routine, you may want to try burpees. This intense cardiovascular exercise is a great way to exercise with limited equipment and train your endurance.
However, the burpee is quite a polarizing exercise, with some contending that its high impact nature isn’t worth the cardio benefits.
Here are some of the pros and cons of burpees:
Pros:
- Gets you sweating – The exercise will have you sweating vigorously after just a couple of minutes. It’s great for warming up and getting your body ready for further, higher intensity exercise.
- Full body exercise – Burpees are perfect for the whole body and they can get you fitter, faster. With time, you can attune your body for burpees and they’ll help you rid yourself of calories quickly.
- Functionally beneficial – Burpees work on a range of muscles in a functional manner, so the improvements in strength and mobility can be seen and felt in day-to-day life, and not just in the gym.
Cons:
- Injury Potential – A lot of people risk injury to their wrists and anterior shoulder muscle because of bad burpee form or due to prior injuries. It’s important to learn the proper technique before attempting it and avoid pushing yourself too hard.
- Variety is needed – To improve the effectiveness of your burpees, you’ll need to learn variations on form and sets. There are endless iterations and versions of this workout, depending on where and with whom you train.
These are some of the pros and cons of the burpee. Consult a qualified professional or coach before trying any new exercise.