Is curling a high intensity sport?

Author: Jose Cronin  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Some Canadian studies have shown that heart rates in athletic people can climb as high as 170 bpm while curling. (The resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60-100 bpm). Apparently “CNBC guy”'s heart rate went up to 220 bpm. With a typical game lasting about two hours, it can be quite an interval workout.

How strenuous is curling?

Given that curling participation generally runs between 90 minutes and three hours, this can lead to a substantial amount of moderate to vigorous activity during the contest. The mean estimated MET value for the exercise session was 2.1 METs.

What type of exercise is curling?

Curling is aerobic—first, you are working out in the cold, which means you burn more calories. Second, you can put on about 2 miles walking up and down the ice during the game. Plus the sweeping motion involved in directing the rock increases heart rate and improves your cardiovascular system.

Is curling a low impact sport?

Low Impact or Post-Injury: with the main movements being sliding and sweeping, curling is definitely a low-impact activity. Have no fear about participating as there is no running or kicking involved.

What does curling do to your body?

Strengthens your muscles: Sliding on the ice and being in a constant squatting position strengthens the calves, glutes and quadriceps. You can also get a good core workout by practicing curling and sweeping vigorously ahead of the stone.

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Is curling 50 lbs impressive?

The average Dumbbell Curl weight for a male lifter is 52 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift.

What does curls do to your body?

Bicep curl: Muscles worked and benefits

We use our biceps for everyday activities, like picking up bags of groceries. And strengthening the front of the arm can help create a leaner and more toned appearance. Since curls cause hypertrophy, or growth in muscle size, the exercise will both strengthen and tone the arms.

What muscles hurt after curling?

Shoulder injuries: Shoulder injuries can occur due to repetitive sweeping motion. Back injuries: Back injuries can occur due to the need to maintain a low stance and balance on the ice. Knee injuries: Knee injuries can occur due to the need to shift weight from one leg to another while maintaining balance.

What sport is curling most similar to?

curling, a game similar to lawn bowls but played on ice. Two teams of four players (given the titles lead, second, third, and skip) participate in a curling match.

What is the lowest impact sport?

Popular forms of low-impact exercise include walking, yoga, Pilates, swimming, skating, cross-country skiing, and golf.

What muscle does curling build?

Curls work the biceps muscles at the front of the upper arm, and also the muscles of the lower arm—the brachialis and brachioradialis. 1 You use these muscles anytime you pick something up, which is common throughout daily life.

Is curling good exercise for seniors?

Thus, curling is unique in that it is highly inclusive of age and facilitates participation from an aging body. Given that aging, invariably, affects physical function and curling provides an avenue to compensate for these changes, curling becomes a distinct site to explore the intersection of aging and sport.

Does curling take a lot of strength?

Curling demands skills such as balance, concentration, precision, mental strength, cooperation and strategy. Curling used to be a strength sport, where the goal was to make the stone go the farthest out onto a frozen lake.

What is the hardest part of curling?

Pushing the curling stone is a doozy. It takes a lot of coordination, which I certainly don't have. You have to lead with one foot, while moving your opposite arm and wrist, and then let that stone go — all within seconds. I fell more than once trying to master this part of the game.

Has anyone fallen while curling?

Over 90% of acute curling injuries resulted from a fall, and 31.7% were head impacts. We found that acute injuries requiring ED presentation occur at a rate of approximately 0.17 per 1000 athlete-exposures (95% CI: 0.12–0.22).

Is curling an easy sport?

Well, being an active curler, I can tell you that it's not inherently dangerous, but it is physical and definitely not easy.

Is there skill in curling?

Curling is a game of skill and of tradition. A shot well executed is a delight to see and it is also a fine thing to observe the time-honoured traditions of curling being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win, but never to humble their opponents.

What state is known for curling?

One of the most bizarre Olympic sports is curling, which has a proud Wisconsin heritage.

Does curling count as exercise?

A typical curling match will last for two hours, during which time participants often experience some level of physical activity, as well as balance, coordination, and muscular strength.

Why do curls hurt so much?

Using the wrong form and technique during curling exercises can stress your forearm muscles and tendons too much. Common mistakes include using too much weight, not keeping your wrist in a neutral position, and not engaging your biceps properly.

What does rubbing the ice do in curling?

If the ice were flat, the friction on the stone would be too high and the rock would not travel half as far. Pebbling was designed to mimic the natural snow and pebbles that were on the ice when curling was played outside. Curlers sweep the ice to help the stone travel farther and straighter.

Why does my back hurt when curling?

If you overload your biceps by lifting more weight than you're ready for, the muscles of your chest and upper back will get involved, tensing up and potentially causing pain. You should never lift so much weight that it compromises your form in this way.

How many times a week should you do curls?

Within a single week (microcycle) of training, we recommend between 2 and 5 different biceps exercises. For example, if you train biceps 3x a week, you can do a heavy barbell curl on one day, a lighter barbell curl on the next day, and a machine one-arm curl on the last day for 2 total exercises in the week.

Why are curls beautiful?

Men often find curly hair alluring for its unique texture and volume and how it frames a woman's face. Women may also find it attractive because it can be styled in a multitude of ways using a hair curler brush and other tools, from simple and natural looks to extravagant and glamorous styles.

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