It makes sense doesn’t it? I mean if we’re getting injuries at the gym from picking up more than we can carry, then handling our own weight seems like another representation of the circle of life? Right? Weight-bearing exercises are important for your health, particularly for muscle and bone development. Resistance bands provide muscle-building tension, and the great thing is that they can be used anywhere at any time.
Identification
Resistance bands come in a variety of types, lengths and tensions. Some are flat in composition, while others consist of a tubular band that’s often surrounded by a protective material. The latter option comes with handles for gripping, while the former type lacks hand grips. Depending on your specific needs, you can use a band that offers tension anywhere from 7kg to over 90kg of resistance. Many companies colour code their bands to easily distinguish between levels of tension.
Resistance Exercise
Like free weights or weight machines, resistance bands provide a force against which your muscles must work. This action causes muscles to contract, which stimulates bone as well as muscle growth. PeerTrainer.com notes that because as you stretch the band the tension increases, bands can, in some ways, be superior to free weights. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends the use of resistance bands as one of the safest methods to increase bone strength and help prevent osteoporosis.
Advantages
Exercise bands are compact, lightweight and can be used in your home, office or hotel room. They are often used during physical rehabilitation sessions, as they allow the therapist to provide different levels of resistance in a variety of postures and motions that can be modified to suit your specific needs. In contrast, you can perform only a limited amount of movements with free weights or weight machines. Bands provide resistance to just about any motion, and can be especially helpful for athletes. For instance baseball pitchers can add resistance to their pitching motion, and tennis players can strengthen their backhand with the help of a band.
Considerations
Both the flat bands and the tubular bands with handles are easy to store and carry. The handles make certain exercises, like bicep curls and chest flys, easier. Typically, you attach the middle of the band to a stationary object, or stand on it with your feet. However, tubular resistance bands can roll out of place, potentially leading to misalignment in your exercise.