An Olympic sprinting coach has suggested that rekindling a passion for skipping could boost life expectancy. Stuart McMillan, who has trained over 70 Olympians during his career, believes that skipping offers more health benefits than simply jogging.

Skipping combines cardiovascular exercise with plyometrics – exercises designed to enhance explosiveness – through jumping. While skipping is popular among children, McMillan notes that many adults abandon skipping and sprinting. He has argued that redeveloping fast-twitch muscle fibres by skipping can improve an individual’s health in numerous ways. “There’s so many different benefits to this,” McMillan stated on The Huberman podcast. “Whether it’s the plyometric benefit, whether it’s the fascial (connective tissue) benefit because this is such a cross-body co-ordinative aspect, there are all sorts of brain benefits to that.

“There are so many more benefits to skipping than just jogging. The on-ramp for me, when I talk about skipping, is just to put it into your jogs. Next time you jog, go for a mile or so, then just go back and forth between skipping and jogging every 30 seconds, and I guarantee you, you will feel better with each skip that you do.

“There’s a self-organising, coordinating aspect, where you start feeling a little bit more bouncy, a little lighter, a little bit more coordinated, and rhythmic, which feeds into your jogging.”

Dr Andrew Huberman couldn’t contain his enthusiasm post-workout with fitness expert McMillan, lauding the benefits of a skipping session. “Skipping is such a natural movement for most people, and it feels so damn good,” Huberman explained.

“It’s actually a bit more taxing than people believe, and I came out of that workout from skipping yesterday feeling like my hips were nice and open, tonnes of extension. My posture’s up; I feel like I grew an inch. I feel incredible.”

Research, including a 2010 study, demonstrates that consistent dynamic exercise results in a lower mortality rate, particularly due to the reduced threat of heart disease. Skipping bolsters muscular capabilities, connective tissues, and neurological health, all vital for mobility in later life, and it also holds less injury risk.

While McMillan cautions against the dangers of rushing into sprinting sessions, he champions skipping for providing similar benefits. The coach explained that even a 10-minute routine can improve fast-twitch muscle fibres.

As ageing naturally impacts strength, response time, and agility, activities that use explosive movements like skipping are essential for retaining quickness, coordination, and power.

Discussing alternatives to jogging and sprinting, McMillan endorses two key exercises. “I typically recommend two activities. One is running up hills,” he said. “There’s a lot less stress on the tissue and joints by sprinting up a hill than by sprinting straight away.”

“The second one, and I think more important, is skipping. I don’t know why we stopped skipping.”

McMillan urged people to take up the childhood activity, saying: “Skipping isn’t just for kids. It’s one of the best things we can do for our bodies – at any age.”