When you hear the phrase weight training or strength training, you typically think of bulky free weights or machine weights, but on the contrary the new age form of strength training can be looked at from a wide variety of methods. Typically I refer to strength training as resistance training, which speaks for itself; training against a resistance. This resistance which I have become an enormous fan of and has worked incredibly well in terms of my training habits is the use of resistance bands. Or in other words rubber tubes with hands on the ends of them. This is a phenomenal tool and should be used by all in my opinion when strength training.
Resistance bands allow you to train in all three planes of motion (Saggital, Frontal, and Transverse) with ease and allow more functional movements, as if you were truely moving as you normally do but with an added resistance. One of the biggest differences that I've noticed is that when you lift a normal weight, you're forcefully acting against that weight to move it in a desired direction. The weight maintains the same force on your body throughout the whole motion. For example, a 30lb bicep curl puts 30lb's of force on your muscle throughout the whole motion, through the concentric contaction, isometric contraction and the eccentric contraction. Where as a resistance band builds tension as you increase the length of the lever. Picture a bicep curl with a resistance band, you can control the motion but as you bring your arm up the resistance increases making the exercise harder.
The best thing about resistance bands is that it allows you to train safer. You can change up the tempo in which you're working out easily, they're cost effective, easy to transport and if you can't make it to the gym you can workout at home or on break at your job. They're very beneficial to core training do to how dynamic they work. As I said, they allow you to be more functional in your movement patterns and training your core is a very important part of total overall strength. Have you ever heard of the saying "you're only as strong as your core"? Well, that's true. Simple core exercises that you can modify with resistance bands can range from side planks to trunk rotations. The variable resistance allows your core musculature to increase, improving balance, stability and posture along with preventing injury. In addition, they're a great tool to use as a warm up and cool down during strength training sessions.
If you're interested in resistance bands they're available at the Ely Wellness Center for your use and trust me they work. Check out this video of T.O using resistance bands as part of his core training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U75JUCqd2s
The best thing about resistance bands is that it allows you to train safer. You can change up the tempo in which you're working out easily, they're cost effective, easy to transport and if you can't make it to the gym you can workout at home or on break at your job. They're very beneficial to core training do to how dynamic they work. As I said, they allow you to be more functional in your movement patterns and training your core is a very important part of total overall strength. Have you ever heard of the saying "you're only as strong as your core"? Well, that's true. Simple core exercises that you can modify with resistance bands can range from side planks to trunk rotations. The variable resistance allows your core musculature to increase, improving balance, stability and posture along with preventing injury. In addition, they're a great tool to use as a warm up and cool down during strength training sessions.
If you're interested in resistance bands they're available at the Ely Wellness Center for your use and trust me they work. Check out this video of T.O using resistance bands as part of his core training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U75JUCqd2s
I used to use these a lot in high school when i played baseball and they always worked well for me. But as things changed i completely forgot about them and it's only until now that I've been using them at the gym and I got to say it feels good to be re-acquainted because they really are a great tool to use. Good blog man
ReplyDeleteI think these are a really good safe alternative to weights. I personally have never used them but have seen many people using them. The only thing I am somewhat confused about is how do you know exactly how much resistance your putting on, like is it the same for everyone or can you adjust the band somehow. I know with weights you can do it by adding or decreasing the weight, but how would it be done with these bands? I think this is a very informative topic for athletes and they should really start considering these for training.
ReplyDeleteResistance bands are awesome and i've been starting to use them a lot lately especially over the past two months. I feel you get a much better workout in overall and it's a totally different type of workout compared to using weights. There are so many different types of workouts that come along with the resistance bands that you pretty much can come up with on your own. A lot of professional athletes use the bands as well. Take Terrel Owens for example, because he does his whole workout using the resistance bands. A lot of great helpful information and good post overall.
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