To achieve peak health, the body must be maintained regularly. Building and maintaining strong muscles is especially crucial as one’s risk of bone loss and fractures rises with age.
Strength training aims to enhance physical strength to allow the body to do daily tasks, prevent injury, and improve overall health, says Forbes Health.
Strength training is one of four forms of exercise, along with flexibility, endurance, and balance, and it includes activities such as push-ups, pull-ups, and weight lifting.
Marc Matarazzo M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports medicine and related injuries says, “Strength training can consist of various techniques, including machine-based training, free weights, plyometrics and complex and functional training, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT).”
Below, Forbes Health provides the benefits of strength training.
- Increases Muscle Size and Strength: Strength training can improve muscle size, strength, power, and athletic performance.
- Improves Cardiovascular Health: Forbes Health states that training lowers your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Increases Bone Density: Strength training encourages bone growth while strengthening existing bones, reducing overall bone loss.
- Stabilises and protects joints: Your joint stability and strength improve and the risk of injury and enhancing general functionality reduces.
- Lowers Body Fat: Strength training allows the body to burn more calories throughout the day. It also boosts a person’s metabolic rate, which influences body composition.
- Promotes Mental Well-Being: Strength training can help enhance mental health by reducing anxiety and depression.
- Improves Sleep Quality: It also assists with regulating sleeping patterns as well as alleviating stiffness and aches that might cause sleep disruptions.
The health publication Healthline emphasises the variety of strength training and recommends using body weight, resistance bands, free weights, and other home items to create a thorough workout plan.
Also see: 5 Tips to grow your glutes at home
