Recently, strength and resistance training has been become more popular and en vogue. It has numerous benefits for a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions including chronic pain, low back pain and osteoarthritis. Importantly, strength training should be done by everyone regardless of their age or gender.

Common misconceptions of strength training include:

It makes you bulky. Whilst resistance training does main to maintain and increase muscle mass, becoming bulky and putting on lean muscle takes a lot of effort. This will be affected by diet, genetics and hormones. Strength training can improve and maintain muscle mass without making you bulky.

It reduces flexibility. In fact, research has actually shown that resistance training is equally beneficial as stretching for improving flexibility. Strength training will take your muscles and joints through your full range of motion.

You need to use equipment. Whilst some equipment can be beneficial, strength training uses the principles of overload.

Strength training puts too much pressure through joints. Strength training and improving the strength of surrounding muscles has been shown to actually decrease the pressure going through your joints. This is why strength training is recommended in the management of arthritis. Not only does strength training improve your muscle mass, it also makes bones and joints stronger.

Our team at ME Physio have a range of strengthening and resistance programs.