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Why Strength and Flexibility Training are Important
We all know why cardiovascular exercise is so important - we hear it all the time when we turn on the TV or radio,
open a magazine or newspaper. We hear it so much, we even end up tuning it out sometimes! Even kids these days
have heard it many, many times: cardiovascular exercise is needed to help lower blood pressure, its burns lots of
calories and in general decreases our risk of heart disease.
But what about flexibility and coordination training? And strength training? Sure, you need to do strength
training to build big muscles but is that enough to make it important for everyone to do?
No, but both are important for everyone to do for a number of reasons! Below is just a sample of why:
Importance of Flexibility and Coordination Training
Neuromuscular Health - The speed at which a signal is sent to the brain and back, also known as
nerve-impulse velocity, is increased when people are involved in flexibility training.
Lower Back Health - People who regularly and properly stretch can reduce their chances of
developing lower back pain. When you increase the flexibility in your quadriceps and hamstrings
it helps to relax your muscles. This is good for your lower back.
Joint Health - Flexibility training makes joints healthier and more flexible, which in turn
decrease the risk of injury to the joints. One of the ways it does this is by increasing the range
of motion of this joints. It also increasing the amount of synovial fluid in the joints to help decrease
degeneration of the joints.
Aging - People who don't stay flexible as they get older can become very stiff and can have
difficulty getting around.
Improves Posture - Balance and posture can be improved in people who regularly engage in stretching
and flexibility training.
Strength Training
Strength training, also known as resistance training, uses resistance usually in the form of weights to
strengthen muscles.
Preventing age related strength loss - Most people as they age begin to lose strength in their muscles
and become weak. It has been shown that by the time most people are in their mid-twenties they start
losing over .5 pounds of muscle mass each year. This doesn't have to happen. Strength training
can prevent or at least slow down the loss of muscle mass.
Reduces Chance of Injury - When your muscles are stronger they can act as shock absorbers and lessen
the chance of a serious injury.
Decrease Risk of Osteoporosis - As people age their bone mass starts to decrease and they have a
greater chance of breaking bones. As strength training
exercise makes muscles stronger, it also cause bones to increase in mass and become stronger.
Metabolic Rate - The basal metabolic rate (BMR) decreases in most people over time. This tends
to result in increased body fat. Muscles use lots of energy so when your muscle mass is increased, you use
up more calories even when just doing everyday activities. This reduces your basal metabolic rate.
And makes it easier to lose weight or maintain the weight you are at now.
For the above reasons, and more, you can see that it is necessary when developing a fitness program
to include all 3 components - cardiovascular exercise, flexibility training and strength training!
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