Continuous trips to physical therapy. Continuous trips to the doctors. When will it end? Why do I keep getting injured?

One might think that they are keeping their body in shape and healthy by playing one sport year round. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. According to health athletic trainer Alex Jzyk, playing one sport year round can put you more at risk of an injury that could leave you on the sidelines for longer than you’d like.

“It trains your muscles to only react to that one sport, so you’re getting very limited fitness and muscle fibers for that one sport,” Jzyk said.

In order to prevent such injuries, one can either play several sports, or cross train, according to Jzyk.

“Cross training is a combination of strengthening, speed work, agility drills, and plyometric training to build up a group of muscles and your overall fitness,” Jzyk said.

According to Jzyk, cross training is an alternative to playing another sport and still has great effects on your body. Cross training is beneficial for people who play one sport year round. Cross training provides a cardio workout or an anaerobic workout without stressing joints, tendons and bones, Jzyk said.

“With cross training you focus on the lower body or the upper body, which incorporates a broad spectrum of activities into your routine,” Jzyk said.

Athletes such as sophomore baseball player, Mitchell Schroeder, said they have seen and felt the benefits of cross training during on and off seasons of baseball.

“Not only are you making your muscles stronger for the sport you play, but you’re doing it in different ways, so you’re not always hitting, you’re not always throwing, or always squatting to catch,” Schroeder said. “You’re using your muscles in different ways so then when you do throw and catch, your muscles will be there for you. I’ve gotten stronger, I’ve gotten faster, and I think it’s great for everyone.”

According to sophomore rower, Lihi Kadosh, cross training is also a great time to help your body recover after a long season, or to strengthen it for the start of a new season.

After the Charles River freezes and the outdoor fall season ends, the team cross trains indoors, according to Kadosh.

“We lift a lot, we bike sometimes, urn and we run sometimes as well,” said Kadosh.

According to Kadosh, cross training serves as a recovery time for their bodies and muscles after a strenuous outdoor season. As the rowers get closer to their upcoming season, the intensity of the cross training increases to make sure that their bodies are still in good shape.

Jzyk said cross training includes many options, such as riding a bike, swimming, core exercises, doing workouts in the weight room, and aqua jogging in the pool. There are also a number of options available for those trying to mix up their routine or try out new exercises.

In addition to cross training, CrossFit is also an option for offseason workouts. CrossFit is constantly varied high intensity functional movement, according to CrossFit trainer and high school history teacher, Stephanie Hunt.

“It’s a good way to stay fit, but you also won’t get bored of the thing you’re doing,” junior Eva Morgan said. “Say if you run, and you run every single day, you’re gonna get bored of it. CrossFit allows you to switch it up and try new things, which I really like.”

Hunt said that the definition of CrossFit is intentionally broad.

“The goal of crossfit is to bring together many different definitions of fitness, such as cardiovascular movement, gymnastics, weight training, weightlifting, and to make individuals as athletically well rounded and as functionally strong as possible,” Hunt said.

According to Jzyk, CrossFit is good to do in the offseason, but it is only helpful if it is done correctly.

“Unfortunately it’s become such a trending workout regime that it can’t be regulated the way it should be, and it is dangerous to athletes because they aren’t taught perfect form,” Jzyk said. “CrossFit is good, but I wouldn’t highly recommend it, unless it is being done right.”

According to Hunt, CrossFit, like cross training, also helps when recovering from injuries, or with preventing injuries.

“CrossFit and any weightlifting can help with injuries because sometimes injuries happen because you’re not strong and your body is over compensating in one way,” Hunt said. “So, in overcompensating you’re pulling a muscle or you’re hurting yourself in one way. So, CrossFit helps to build up your muscles in an effort to prevent future injuries.”