The basic principal of resistance training (also known as weight training or strength training) is the use of any form of exercise using resistance that forces your skeletal muscles to contract when required.
Adding resistance training to your fitness program can help you to build strength, anaerobic endurance and build the size of your skeletal muscles.
Some of the Mental and Physical health benefits include:
– Pain management
– Improved mobility and balance
– Increase of muscular tone and strength
– Posture
– Increased bone density and strength
– Decrease the risk of Osteoporosis
– Weight management
– Wellbeing and self-confidence
– Improved sleep patterns
When integrating resistance training into your fitness program, you will need to train 2-3 times a week for maximum benefits. Varying your training program with different exercises, weights used and repetitions performed will help maintain strength and work different muscles in the body.
There are many different forms of resistance training these can include:
– Free weights (dumbbells, kettle-bells and barbells)
– Weight machines (cable machines, leg extension etc)
– Resistance bands
– Your own body weight (squats, push-ups, pull-ups)
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This post was written by Dr Drew Howell.
You can find out more about Drew here or book an appointment with him here.
Alternatively, you can call our clinic on 03 9908 2844.