Training

Benefits of Strength Training

We may be living less physical lives but that doesn’t mean we don’t need strong bodies. In fact, the very fact that our lifestyles are more sedentary means that we should be more focused on futureproofing our bodies to prevent ailments that come from under-used muscles.

ㅤㅤ

WHAT IS STRENGTH TRAINING?

Strength training is all about performing exercises that focus on weight and resistance, in order to build strength, power or endurance in a particular muscle group. Strength training is a key component of overall health and fitness for everyone and it can be done at home or in the gym.

Strength training can include the following:

• Using your own body weight: For example, push-ups, pull-ups, abdominal crunches and leg squats.

• Using resistance bands: Lightweight rubber bands or tubing that provides resistance when stretched.

• Free weights: Doing repetitive movements with weights such as barbells or dumbbells.

• Weight machines: Most gyms have a variety of resistance machines or you can buy portable versions to use at home.

ㅤ

ㅤ

THE BENEFITS OF STRENGTH TRAINING

Day-to-day life: Strength training makes daily tasks easier, bringing your body into alignment and allowing your muscles to organise themselves into better shapes and postures with a reduced risk of injury.

Even simple things like standing up for long periods of time, or lying on the floor, can be improved with strength training because you are more focused on how your bones and muscles interact and where you may have imbalances.

ㅤ

IMPROVING YOUR EXISTING SPORT SKILLS

Strength training can seriously improve your performance in other sports. You can use resistance and force to build muscle in different ways; sprinters, for example, may want to isolate and train their calf muscles to give huge bursts of explosive energy, whereas long distance runners will want to improve the muscular endurance of their leg muscles which can also be achieved through strength training. Cyclists, swimmers, boxers, tennis players, rowers – everyone can massively increase their individual sport performance by focusing on concentrated muscle groups through strength training.

ㅤ

ㅤ

FUTURE PROOF YOUR BODY

Strength training can help you preserve and enhance muscle mass at any age, and may also help with the following:

• Strengthen bone density: Strength training stresses your bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

• Lose weight: Strength training can increase your metabolism to help burn more calories.

• Improve circulation: Resistance training stimulates muscle growth and strength, improving blood flow to the arms and legs.

Advice provided by Chris Odle & Alexa Garside

Looking for some training tips and advice? Then head over to our Training category where our athletes and experts explain everything you need to know.