Drumming: it’s more than just booming sounds and spectacular solos. Surprisingly, it could be the hidden gem in your fitness routine. Move aside treadmills and elliptical trainers – we’re discussing an exhilarating and efficient full-body workout. However, before splurging on a drum kit and channeling your inner rockstar, you may be curious: is drumming an efficient exercise?
This article will delve into the realm of drumming as a form of exercise. So, metaphorically grab your drumsticks, because your workout regime is about to get a rockstar upgrade!
Is Drumming Good Exercise?
Indeed! Drumming can be an excellent exercise, offering numerous advantages for both your body and mind. Here’s why:
Cardiovascular dynamo: Drumming can elevate your heart rate and get your blood circulating, making it a stellar cardio workout. Depending on how intense and what style of drumming you do, you can burn up to 600 calories per hour, akin to other moderate-intensity exercises like running or cycling.
Comprehensive workout: Drumming involves various muscle groups at once, from your core and arms to your legs and glutes. It enhances core stability, supports back muscles for upright posture, and increases coordination and dexterity.
Gentle on Joints: Unlike high-impact workouts, drumming is generally low-impact on your joints, making it suitable for individuals with joint pain or limitations. The bouncing motion of drumming can even aid in bone density improvement and increased flexibility.
Stress reliever: Drumming is an outstanding way to reduce stress and elevate your mood. The repetitive rhythm can trigger endorphin release, leaving you cheerful and energized. Additionally, the creative outlet can be incredibly satisfying and boost your self-esteem.
Mental boost: Drumming also benefits cognitive functions. It demands coordination, concentration, and memory, which can enhance overall brain health and possibly decelerate age-associated cognitive decline.
How Many Calories Do You Burn Playing Drums?
Drumming isn’t solely about producing rhythm and music; it’s also an effective method to burn calories and maintain fitness. Whether you’re on a drum kit or engaged in hand drumming, expect a noteworthy calorie burn.
1. Drum Kit Playing:
Engaging with a traditional multi-component drum kit, which includes drums, cymbals, and pedals, involves your arms, legs, and core muscles. The constant movement to keep a fast pace turns drumming into an intense workout. Typically, an hour of drum kit playing burns between 200 to 400 calories or more, based on your session’s intensity and duration.
2. Hand Drumming:
Preference for hand drumming, such as playing the djembe, congas, or bongos, still engages your upper body and core. Although it may not involve much footwork, the calorie burn ranges with the speed and intensity of your rhythms. On average, an hour of hand drumming burns around 200 to 300 calories.
3. Comparing Calorie Burn with Other Activities:
Here’s a comparison of calorie expenditure for playing drums to other popular physical activities. Note that these rates are approximate and can vary based on factors like your weight, intensity, and duration. For a person weighing 180 lb (81 kg), here’s how different activities measure up:
| Activity | Calories Burned per Hour |
|---|---|
| Drum Kit Playing | 200-400 calories |
| Hand Drumming | 200-300 calories |
| Road Cycling (12 mph/19 kph) | 3,402 calories |
| Running (8-minute mile pace/4:58 per km) | 840 calories |
| Swimming (moderate effort) | 600 calories |
| Walking (4 mph/6.4 kph) | 338 calories |
Though drumming may not incinerate as many calories as vigorous activities like road biking or running, it still offers substantial benefits. Plus, drumming helps improve coordination, boost mental focus, and reduce stress.
What Muscles Does Drumming Engage?
You might be amazed to discover how many muscles are used when playing the drums. Here are the primary muscles that get exercised while drumming:
1. Core Muscles:
Maintaining balance and stability is essential in drumming, thus your core muscles are heavily involved. As you maintain your posture while sitting or standing, the muscles in your abdomen, such as the rectus abdominis and obliques, are constantly at work.
2. Forearms:
Drumming demands significant use of the forearm muscles to create strong rhythms and beats. Every strike of the drumstick or hand on the drumhead engages the flexor and extensor muscles in your forearms.
3. Triceps:
The triceps, situated at the rear of your upper arms, aid in extending your elbows, contributing force to each drum strike. They work in tandem with your forearms to generate the necessary power.
4. Calves:
Your lower legs also get a workout during drumming. Playing the bass drum pedal or using double bass techniques, your calves are actively engaged to control the pedals and keep the beat. Over time, this can strengthen and tone your calf muscles.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is drumming good for blood pressure?
Various studies suggest that drumming can help to alleviate stress, reduce blood pressure, and bolster the immune system. Establishing a steady drumming practice can lead to these health benefits.
Does drumming tone your arms?
Although drumming may not specifically tone your arms, regular practice can enhance the endurance of the forearm muscles, leading to slight toning and possible muscle size increase.
How much weight do you lose drumming?
A typical drumming session can burn between 200 and 500 calories. During an hour-long performance, you can burn up to 1,000 calories, which is comparable to 78 minutes of casual swimming or 10,000 steps taken at a walking pace.