‘Toning’ is a buzzword in the fitness industry that is used to mean increasing the visibility of muscle definition by either, or both increasing muscle size itself and reducing the fat on and around it. In this sense, jump rope will help tone your legs, but it might not be the most effective way to achieve that goal.

Jump rope is commonly promoted as a ‘full-body workout’ that targets all the muscles in your body. However, sadly, this is not true. Jump rope is not a full-body workout. I look at the biomechanics of how a person jumps rope, it’s clear that jump rope is predominantly a lower-body workout which targets both the anterior and posterior chain musculature.

The short answer is, no. Not on its own. Jump rope is known for being an excellent way to burn a lot more calories per hour than other forms of cardiovascular exercise. When you do this, the ab muscles which everyone has will become more visible.

Jump rope cannot build muscle. But it can tone muscle by helping you reduce the fat around the muscles you do have.