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3 Minutes Read

Why Use Agility Ladders

Ladder Drills Burn Serious Calories

If you’re looking for a way to mix up your workouts, look no further than agility ladder drills! These fast-paced ladder exercises get your heart pumping and burn tons of calories.

Agility ladder drills aren’t just for the elite athlete. Ladder exercises can be the perfect way to get started with athletic style training, even for the nonathlete. Plus, a speed and agility ladder workout is a great way to get your heart pumping (and calories melting).

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The agility ladder, also known as a speed ladder, improves three key fitness factors—speed, agility, and quickness—in addition to strengthening your joints, ligaments, and tendons. Let’s explore the benefits of agility ladder training and 11 awesome agility ladder exercises!

The Benefits Of Agility Ladder Exercises

An agility ladder workout is great for so many reasons. Yes, your heart rate gets up there and you’re going to burn calories, but there’s so much more to it than that. Ladder drills will mix up your workout and keep you interested even when you’re in a fitness rut. Here are just some of the benefits of speed ladder training.

1. Improves Speed, Agility, and Quickness

Whether you’re a pro athlete or an exercise newbie, agility ladder drills are the perfect form of cross-training because they help improve your speed, agility, and quickness.

  • Speed: your ability to move in one direction as fast as possible
  • Agility: your coordination—your ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change directions
  • Quickness: your ability to react or switch positions quickly

These three factors not only improve your athletic performance in other sports and activities but can help you boost your fitness level for virtually any type of workout you do, from strength training and dance to pilates or bodyweight workouts in between!

2. Great For Heart Health

An agility ladder workout gets your heart pumping and is a great form of cardio. Getting your heart rate up through cardiovascular exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy and young. Because agility ladder drills require so much precision and focus, they can elevate your heart rate in a short amount of time. The CDC recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of heart-pumping cardio per week; agility ladder exercises can certainly be a part of that!

3. Agility Ladder Drills Burn Tons Of Calories

Because speed ladder drills are a great form of cardio, they also burn mega calories! They are considered a type of high-intensity interval training, they do what is the best method to attack your fat: accomplish more in less time!

By going “all-out” in short bursts of intense effort and then taking a brief pause, you typically blast fat and burn more calories than you would be doing most lower-intensity, steady-state cardio activities.

4. Keeps You Mentally Sharp

Stay young with a workout that will keep you on your toes and thinking fast! These agility ladder drills require you to focus and concentrate, connecting your brain to your body. This type of improved coordination not only benefits your daily life, but keeps your mind young.

Speed ladder drills are so powerful they could even prevent Alzheimer’s. Studies even show that Alzheimer’s patients who participate in exercise programs including balance and coordination components retain more muscle strength and control than patients who do not.

Plus, from the moment you put your foot into the first ladder exercise, your brain will be focused and your training session will speed by.

5. It’s FUN!

We all get bored sometimes with our workout, so if you feel like you’re in a rut and sick of slogging away on the treadmill one more time, try this workout! It’s an amazing feeling to perform athlete-style speed and agility training. Step into the first phase of becoming more athletic and agile with a ladder drill – I promise your body can do it. You can do ladder exercises outside, in the garage, or in the basement. It’s something different, and it’s just plain fun. Your kids will have a blast with it too!

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07.23.2025

Glutathione: Why Everyone Is Talking About This Master Antioxidant

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While they occur in many foods naturally, people with PTSD appear especially sensitive to excess glutamates, which can trigger brain inflammation and nerve overstimulation.A study on Gulf War veterans found that a low-glutamate diet significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, particularly anxiety and brain fog.Common foods high in glutamates or MSG include:Fish sauce and oyster sauceSoy sauce, miso, and fermented beansParmesan cheese and aged cheesesTomatoes and tomato-based saucesMushrooms, seaweed, and spinachNote: These foods are not inherently “bad,” but for individuals with PTSD, being mindful of intake and noticing symptom flares after consumption can be key to management.What to Eat Instead: Nutrients That Support Trauma RecoveryHere’s the good news: a trauma-informed diet can calm inflammation, repair oxidative damage, and support emotional resilience. Let’s look at some of the top nutritional allies for PTSD recovery1. 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Avoid Food Triggers (With Compassion and Awareness)Some foods and additives can worsen symptoms in people with PTSD:Added sugar – may trigger mood swings and blood sugar crashesCaffeine – can increase anxiety, heart palpitations, and sleep disruptionAlcohol – disrupts sleep cycles and neurotransmitter balanceMSG/glutamates – may overstimulate an already sensitive brainThat doesn’t mean all these must be eliminated entirely, but individuals should pay attention to how they feel after consuming them and consider moderating intake where needed.The Holistic Path ForwardPTSD healing isn’t linear. It often requires a multi-modal approach, combining:Trauma-informed therapy (like EMDR, somatic therapy, or CBT)Medication, when indicated and appropriateNutritional support to rebuild and repair the nervous systemMovement, breathwork, and mindfulness to re-regulate the bodyAt Larson Health, we believe in treating the whole person—not just the symptoms. Food isn’t the only answer, but it is a powerful ally in the journey toward healing.Final Thoughts: Food as Empowerment After TraumaPTSD is a complex condition that deserves compassion, patience, and care. While food cannot erase trauma, it can help rebuild the foundation of a safer, more stable brain and body.If you or someone you love is navigating the effects of trauma, know that healing is possible. And it may begin with something as simple and profound as what's on your plate.

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