Resistance Equipment For The Home Gym
What do you think is the best exercise when it comes to strength training? Well if you ask this question to different physical trainers you may get different answers. Regardless if you are young and old, Pilates offers great strength training exercises that also improves your balance and flexibility. And if you are over the age of twenty five you may be losing up to 5% of lean muscle mass for every decade past that age.
Did you know that the muscle fiber of a 20 year old looks similar to that of a 70 year old? S0 beginning a strength training routine later in life will net positive results. It’s never too late to build muscle. Do it now and avoid frailty later in life. Muscle mass isn’t the only loss age delivers. Loss of balance, flexibility, and stamina also decreases. Pilates exercise helps all ages and any level of fitness. It also helps the muscles surrounding joints too.
Because of this many physical therapists have adopted Pilates in their rehabilitation philosophy to help strengthen their client’s flexibility and posture along with working with them in their specific injury. Joseph Pilates who created this exercise discipline first did it as a nurse in the German army in World War One. He found that by using his exercises wounded soldiers where able to regain their strength.
He used springs fixed to patient’s beds thus the first Pilates equipment was created. Interestingly, the soldiers who were given the exercises using these springs healed and recovered faster than the soldiers who did nothing. Rehabilitation meant getting creative with what you had. Pilates develops flexibility in joints and helps to keep them “oiled up” by gently moving the joints through their ranges of motion. This is particularly important for arthritis sufferers. Keeping a full or near full range of motion in the joints is immensely important to all people, but to arthritis sufferers in particular.
Pilates equipment has grown up you might say over the years. Gone are the days of springs attached to hospital beds. Today we call it a reformer. Pilates equipment like Pilates rings and exercise mats along with instructional DVDs on a multitude of Pilates exercises, are available on the Internet as well as in retail stores. Along with exercise balls, and resistance bands one can achieve so much more. Pilates is a great addition to any fitness program.
Pilates rehab works for many reasons. The attention paid to good form is a perfect way for an injured client to gain strength in injured muscles. Pilates is gentle on the joints and won’t over-stress an already stressed body. It also strengthens the smaller muscle groups that support joints and bony structures, and it builds an awareness to balance, chronically weak and imbalanced muscles gain equal strength. Pilates rehabilitation can be considered preventative medicine. Keeping the body strong now will help avoid injuries tomorrow and staying free of injury is an important benefit as we age.
It is important to note that certified Pilates instructors are not medically qualified to make a diagnosis. It is best to seek out sound medical advise first. Pilates instructors need to work in conjunction with chiropractors, medical professionals and physical therapists in working up the best plan for a client. Pilates exercises is a total body workout that is suitable for all ages and abilities. Make it part of your fitness goals for long term health.
Resistance training helps achieve a healthier lifestyle. Exercise bands like these super fitness bands are great for rehabilitating ankles. Strength train with proper exercise bands and watch your muscular endurance grow.
categories: strength training,resistance training,fitness products,exercise equipment,health and fitness,Pilates,senior fitness
