Did you know that strength training is often disregarded when working out? Most people prefer to chuck on the runners and the stylish active wear and go for a work out. People often think that strength training means you are going to end up looking like Bruce Banner, but it doesn’t. True strength training is safely lifting as much weight as possible, while helping your entire body become strong.
So why strength train then?
This doesn’t mean you need to spend hours in front of the mirror, lifting weights up and down countless times, feeling the burn. It means you are training your nervous system to produce more force in your muscles through the optimal use of your skeletal system. Honestly, it has less to do with shredding for the next music festival than you think.
So, why is strength training so important to incorporate into your daily work out? Why do it if you aren’t planning on all those gains? A strong body means all other forms of exercise becomes more productive. It’s simple, the stronger your body is, the better you will move. So start strength training now!
The main benefits of muscular strength are:
Increasing your capability – by improving your strength, you make it easier for yourself to do things around the house such as gardening or playing with the kids. You may be able to finally achieve your goal of carrying in all your shopping bags from the car in one trip! For older adults, this could mean living longer without the need of assistance care or walking frames.
Improving sports performance– increasing your strength training will make your sporting tasks such as running, jumping and throwing easier. All sports require some sort of muscular movement, therefore strength. You may be able to finally kick that torp from the 50m line and have it make the goal square! You could serve a tennis ball that your mate can’t return or win the next game of ‘The Floor is Lava’.
Preventing pain and injury– Strong, capable muscles are less likely to suffer injury or cause you pain. If we have stronger muscles, the joints surrounding them are put under less stress, resulting in a decreased risk of injury. You are less likely to develop osteoarthritis if you can limit this stress. But the only down side to this is perhaps calling in sick less to work as you haven’t pulled another hammy over the weekend.
All strength training should be undertaken under the guidance of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) or Strength coach. For more information on what an AEP is and how we can help you, visit www.tuckerstrengthperforomance.com.au or call 0419 159 903 today.
Or CLICK HERE to book in a session today.
Bennett Tucker is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Level Two Strength Coach. He has been in the industry for 7 years and worked with a variety of professional athletes. Bennett specialises in athlete rehabilitation and lower back, knee and hip pain. His clinic is located in Croydon, Victoria.