Resistance Band Exercises

There are several advantages to using resistance bands.

The first and most obvious advantage is how much easier they will fit into your luggage compared with free weights or other fitness equipment.

As with any exercise routine, resistance bands will increase the strength of your muscles and stimulate growth. What they will also do is strengthen the full range of motion, sometimes working parts of a lift and muscles sometimes not worked by free weights.

Another major benefit relates to how effective resistance band exercises are when starting to work out again following an injury, as part of a rehabilitation program. Resistance band exercises have been used in such settings for a long time and are particularly effective at allowing you to gradually increase the stress on your muscles as you regain more strength.

The physical benefits don’t stop there. Resistance bands will also help with:

1. Improved Posture – Good posture helps create efficiency of movement together with avoidance of aches and pains caused by poor posture. Maintaining good posture will also lessen the likelihood of injury as the body moves and is maintained in a more natural position.
2. Muscle Balance – We are naturally inclined to exercise the front of the body, e.g. chest and abs, simply because that is what we see in the mirror. This is even more pronounced with many home-based programs as it is sometimes difficult to create a balanced program due to a lack of exercise options, especially for the upper back. It is common to see a body weight program consisting of push-ups, squats and sit-ups. Unfortunately, the upper back ‘misses out’ in a routine such as this. When muscle imbalances occur, they can cause postural and orthopaedic problems, increase the likelihood of injury, not to mention it does not look very good. Resistance bands help maintain muscle balance as they provide exercise options for all areas of the body.
3. Core stability – Core stability is improved by strengthening the cylinder-like musculature around the lower torso. There are not only specific exercises for the core muscles, but the core is also involved in many other non-specific core exercises with resistance bands. Development of this core strength and stability also helps with maintaining the health and strength of the lower back.
4. Mobility – Because of the range of motion that resistance bands allow, they can help with improving your mobility. This often allows strengthening through a greater range which can decrease the likelihood of injury due to muscle weakness.

So, it becomes quite obvious that for anyone who needs a way to work out on vacation, periodically can’t get to the gym, or wants something extra to add to the workout, resistance bands are well worth it. And at such a low cost, there’s little reason not to invest in them.

Are You Ready for Training with Resistance Bands?

Resistance bands are an alternate approach to accomplish your ultimate reward of a strong, defined physique and a body that looks fit and fabulous.

Whether you are an elite athlete, rehabilitating an injury, starting out with resistance training or a regular exerciser, training with resistance bands can provide great results.

Exercise with resistance bands combined with a general cardio program is a great way to get in shape and is so easy and convenient.

Enjoy the many benefits that resistance bands have to offer.

Using Resistance Bands

As resistance bands are stretched, the tension on them increases, which in turn provides resistance that your muscles have to overcome. This makes resistance bands a great addition to any strength training routine or rehabilitation program.  This portable exercise equipment is also easily stored, making it perfect for home use, hotel workouts, or when you’re tight on space at the gym. It is the ideal exercise equipment for travel and vacations as they are light, compact and easily packed in your luggage.

When using resistance bands for your workout, the factor you should be thinking about is which resistance band is most appropriate for the exercise and selecting a band with a resistance appropriate to your strength and the exercise you are doing. As each exercise is different, I recommend having a variety of types of bands with different strengths. When performing the exercise, the band should be secured in a way so the length is appropriate to give resistance even at the bottom of the exercise. You can also adjust the level of resistance by moving closer to or further away from the anchor point or alternatively, shortening the band.

Types of Resistance Bands

The most common types of bands include resistance band tubing with or without handles, loop bands (i.e. giant rubber bands), and flat therapy bands. Resistance bands can be purchased with different resistances and are colour coded, i.e. from easiest to hardest – green, red, blue, black.

I recommend purchasing a combination of resistance bands (type and strength), as certain exercises are better suited to a specific type of band and some exercises require more resistance than others. This also enables you to continue to progress as you can increase the intensity as you get stronger.