When you think of the benefits of resistance training, you likely think first of building muscle.
And while building muscle can be important, there are many other benefits. From maintaining muscle mass and bone density, to targeting specific muscles with the mimicking movements required for a sport, resistance training can be a gentle, yet effective workout for everyone from beginners to professional athletes. Here’s 4 surprising benefits of resistance training.
- Improve posture.
Resistance training works to improve stability and balance by utilizing the muscle groups throughout your core and spine. These hard-to-target muscles, paired with your abdominal muscles, are responsible for supporting your core and helping you to stand taller or sit straighter. Particularly as we age, spinal stability and support can be essential to help in combating spine curvature and balance instability that can lead to falls or injury. Use the MediCordz® Core Stabilization Upper Body Kit with moves like chest presses and front raises to target those spinal muscles while engaging your core. - Decrease risk of injury.
Sports-related injuries have increased overall by 20%. Resistance products are not only easy to travel with, but they also require little space for setup or utilization. This means that you can keep up with your training program or routine, no matter where you are. Consistent training helps to decrease your risk of injury by preventing the muscles from being underutilized or weak. Resistance products can also dial in specific movements, allowing you to continue training while avoiding injuries that are in rehabilitation. - Maintain muscle tone and mass.
Muscle tone is different from muscle mass, in that it is the amount of tension in the muscles compared to the mass, or size of the muscle. Muscle tone and mass can affect posture, but they can also decrease with aging, limiting your ability to maintain strength, flexibility and range of motion. Inactive people can start to lose muscle mass as early as in their 30s, with an estimated loss of 3-5% each decade going forward. The Strechcordz® Stretch and Mobility Strap can be used to stretch and lengthen the muscles while helping with joint mobility. Use it with quadricep, calf and hip stretches. - Improved mental well-being.
Exercise has been shown to decrease levels of anxiety and depression while helping to build confidence and ability. Resistance training allows for a customized workout routine that can be changed as needed for increased, or decreased resistance levels without the need for lots of bulky (or expensive) equipment. Even 15 minutes a day has been shown to impact mental health, with lots of exercise options including playing sports, working out in a gym, walking, strength training, yoga or fitness classes.
The benefits of resistance training are almost endless, with different, specialized products to meet different needs. Whether you’re looking to build strength, rehabilitate an injury, increase flexibility, or improve posture and mental health, the NZ Cordz family of products will quickly become your essential training tools. Shop our full catalog of premium resistance products.