(originally published in The Telegraph Magazine 1st March 2008)
FITNESS Circuit training is a type of exercise that creates stability, range of motion and strength of bone, leading to a hugely reduced risk of any problems associated with the joints. Exercises typically include lunges (for legs), press-ups (for chest and triceps), rowing moves (for the back and biceps), dorsal raises (for the spine), crunches (for the stomach) and shoulder presses (for shoulders). These movements are ideal for stimulating bone growth and helping to combat osteoporosis – a serious issue for both postmenopausal women and men as they age. Swimming could be the ideal exercise if you su!er from joint problems: those with reduced joint range can choose from four di!erent swimming strokes to best suit their condition; the buoyancy of the water can relieve the pressure caused by gravity on sore joints; and swimming uses all the muscles, and therefore all the joints, encouraging a range of motion (and it burns calories too).