Strength Training - More Than Just Getting Ripped

We know that strength training is an important part of a routine. Why? It makes you stronger, and I'm not just talking about the shape of your biceps or the size of your pecs. Resistance training strengthens bones, ligaments, and tendons as well as your muscles. All together, a well oiled internal machine improves your balance and power, while shortening recovery time and risk of injury.

The difference between a full spectrum workout and an all-aerobic workout regimen is huge. People who perform aerobic only routines run the risk of overuse injuries and their fitness is imbalanced. Runners for example work their calves and hamstrings hard, but the quads and upper body get off easy. It’s important to strengthen all the major muscle groups for overall fitness balance and reduce injury risks. No matter how careful they are (varying their workout intensity, the terrain, wearing good shoes, etc.), runners who do not balance with strength training are likely to suffer from some kind of running related injury sooner or later.

Strength and power start at the core. Your core strength, which comes from your abdomen, back and trunk is the center for most of your power, agility and balance. That’s why we bust out the crunches, lunges, and squats. Strengthen the core and you’ve got a lot more umph to rock out the outer, sport specific muscles. Another major benefit to muscle training is creating muscle density. The denser your muscles, the higher your metabolism – and you know what that means. You can consume more calories without gaining weight. Now that’s incentive!