Theraband Resistance Bands

Everyone from the seasoned athlete to a beginner just getting into exercise can benefit from using resistance bands in their workout. The training possibilities of resistance bands are endless. Resistance bands are lightweight, portable, inexpensive, versatile and offer variable resistance.

Resistance bands don’t have the heavy bulkiness of free weights, but when used properly, they provide just as much or even better muscle resistance as free weights. These bands have the unique ability to provide resistance throughout the entire movement. When you use free weights, you don’t necessarily get that continuous resistance. For example, during the lifting phase of a bicep curl, gravity works to provide your bicep with resistance, along with the weight. During the lowering portion of the movement, you lose some of that tension and often simply drop the weight. With bands, you can concentrate on both the lifting and lowering phase of each exercise.

Bands offer more variety of exercises because you can create the resistance from all directions – the side, overhead, below, etc. You can do more exercises with resistance bands than you can do with dumbbells. You can stand on them and do upright and bent-over-rows, lateral raises, front raises, overhead presses and bicep curls; attach them to doors and do rows, trunk rotation, pull-downs triceps kickbacks, pectoral flies and abdominal work; use them with a partner for any of the above exercises; and attach then to your legs to work your hips, thighs and gluteals. You can invent your own exercises if you’re creative and get a full-body workout if you desire.

Resistance bands can be used alone or in combination with other workout equipment that adds even more challenge to the workout such as stability balls, BOSU balls or the Core Balance product. They can be used for basic moves or to add intensity to traditional exercises. Resistance bands also differ in their degree of difficulty. The most stretchable ones are lighter resistance and the harder to stretch ones are heavy resistance. It is a good idea to get several different levels of resistance since some exercises will require less resistance ( such as overhead press) and others will require more resistance (such as the bicep curl).

Resistance bands offer a convenient way to strength train. Because resistance bands are light weight and take up minima space, they are the perfect travel companion. They are also great for use at home, or even behind your desk at work!

References

1. Corning Creager, PT, C (1998). Therapeutic exercises using resistance bands. Berthoud, CO: Executive Physical Therapy, Inc.
2. McCord, D (2008, 4, 15). Facts on Exercise Bands. Livestrong, Retrieved 7, 20, 209,, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/3280-facts-exercise-bands/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium+ssp&utm_campaign+yssp_Articles
3. Waehner, P (2008, 8, 18). Ditch the dumbbells, strength training with resistance bands. About.com, Retrieved 7,20,2009, from http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/a/resistance_band.htm
4. Weil, R (2007, 5, 26). Using tubing and bands. Medical Net, Retrieved 7, 20, 2009, from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art?articlekey=78846

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