When used correctly, resistance bands help improve muscle strength and balance, promote flexibility, and help you achieve better posture and tone your muscles. There are several types of resistance bands. Here you can learn more about them, in addition to three moves for improving upper body strength.
Resistance bands are not impressive-looking exercise tools, but they definitely can pull their weight. During a recent gym training session, my workout routine began with several sets of bicep curls. But before I could reach for the dumbbell rack, my personal trainer dropped a resistance band at my feet.
Really? This thin, lightweight, flimsy-looking thing is going to help strengthen my arms?
I was skeptical, but after a few sets of speed curls where I did 20 reps as fast as possible, my arms burned and twitched like nothing I usually felt with traditional grip-and-curl dumbbells.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells. But mixing it up with different equipment and challenging my muscles in a new way added a jolt to my sometimes-mundane exercise ritual.
By the session’s end, I was a resistance band groupie.
There are several types of resistance bands. The most common type is a single length of stretchy material. Another kind is a closed loop that resembles a giant rubber band. A third type is a thin rubber tube with handles.
One significant advantage of resistance bands compared with weights is that they provide variable levels of resistance. This is particularly helpful in instances when you’re stuck between weights that are either too light or too heavy. You increase resistance in different ways, depending on the type of band you’re using:
Bands are easy to store and use if you follow provided directions, watch videos of band workouts, or learn a band workout from a class or personal trainer.
They can prepare your muscles for the many types of movements you make throughout the day, such as when you stretch, bend, lift, or simply rise from a chair. In addition, training with bands improves muscle power, which helps you avoid falls and risk of injury.
Bands are especially helpful if you have trouble gripping or holding dumbbells, or need greater control when doing exercises, such as if you’re recovering from an injury or dealing with joint pain.
Ready to join the band? Here are three resistance band moves that can help build your chest, back, shoulders, and arms. For these, use the basic stretchy material band, which is readily found online.
Chest punches
Starting position: Place the exercise band around your back and under your armpits. Hold an end in each hand by your shoulders.
Movement: With control, punch your right arm out in front of you on a slight diagonal across your body. Repeat with left arm. That’s one rep.
Muscles worked: Chest
Reps: 8 to 12
Two-hand pull-down
Starting position: Hold a band over your head with your hands about 12 to 16 inches apart.
Movement: Bend your elbows and pull your hands down, stretching the band, to about chest level. Slowly raise your arms back overhead to the starting position.
Muscles worked: Back, shoulders
Reps: 8 to 12
Biceps curl
Starting position: Place the middle of the band under one foot with the opposite foot slightly behind it to help you balance. Hold an end of the band in each hand with your arms down at your sides, palms facing forward.
Movement: Bend your elbows and raise your hands toward your shoulders. Keep your upper arms stationary and your elbows close to your body. Slowly lower to the starting position.
Muscles worked: Front of upper arms
Reps: 8 to 12
Our expert physical therapists will help you understand the use of bands to make sure your body recovers fast. Come try some resistance bands with us! At Miller Physical Therapy, we create a personalized recovery program for each patient with their specific goals and needs in mind. Call us today 561-278-6055 and join our Facebook community.
Reference: [https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/resistance-bands-3-great-ways-to-build-upper-body-strength-202105182458]
