This is a question that comes up very often in the field of bodybuilding. In fact, the opinions of practitioners on the subject are quite divided. Some people think that combining weight training with another sport is an effective way to lose more fat even faster.
The more effort you make by varying your sports disciplines, the more you will succeed in developing muscle mass. On the other hand, there are those who think that certain sports practices slow down muscle development, and for more performance, it is important to concentrate only on bodybuilding and not to spread yourself too thin.
The question is therefore more or less complex, but we will try to see both sides of things in order to draw constructive conclusions.
Using strength training to improve performance.
Strength training is used to complement other sports to improve the performance of professional athletes. It is not uncommon to find professional basketball players who use strength training very regularly to improve their endurance and to sculpt their bodies for defensive reasons.
Boxers need to build up their torso, forearms, shoulders, back and especially their abdominal muscles, as these are the areas most affected in the sport and require special treatment. In addition to technical training, they also need to do strength training to develop their muscle mass.
Sprinters need to build up their lower body muscles, especially the thighs and legs, so that they can easily support the weight of the body and not give out during competitions. It all depends on the goal of the athlete.
Some sports block the development of muscle mass
It is not uncommon to find bodybuilding enthusiasts who categorically refuse to take part in other sports on the pretext that they are a blocking factor in the development of muscle mass. In fact, bodybuilding exercises are programmed. Each day, one muscle or group of muscles must be worked, and during a whole week, all the muscles must be worked.
There is also a recovery period that must be taken seriously to allow the body time to recover and the muscles to heal from injuries caused by intense effort. If the exerciser continues to make additional physical efforts, there may not be enough time for recovery, and recovery is an essential step in the formation of muscles.
He will face a stagnation phase, a stage that is quite difficult to overcome in bodybuilding and which consists in no longer seeing the growth of muscle mass.
Defining your goal
Strength training is a sport that can be practiced as a complement to another discipline. In combat sports, it improves the strength and speed of the fighter to make him gain stability and power. By making the muscles more flexible, strength training helps to prevent possible injuries. In endurance sports, it provides solidity and strength.
On the other hand, a bodybuilder should not jog regularly, as this sport leads to muscle wasting. If he were to run, he should practice HIIT, an activity which consists of alternating intense physical efforts with rests.
It all depends on the goal of the practitioner and his priorities. Does he want to become a professional boxer or sprinter or does he want to develop his muscles to have a perfectly sculpted body?
