Weight training has been sweeping the fitness field for the last six years or so. Weight training focuses on balanced and complete body fitness. It is true that cardiovascular wellness, enhanced through regular participation in aerobic activity, is important for health. However muscular strength and endurance and flexibility will positively influence one's total health and functioning during daily activities, proving to have a more far reaching impact.
The benefits of strength are several. A certain level of strength is necessary if we are to maintain proper postural alignment. Muscles hold bones in alignment and, together with the skeletal system, provide structural support for our bodies. Proper posture alignment will enhance our endurance during normal daily activities and reduce stresses which can cause us minor pain and discomfort.
For example, sufficient abdominal strength, combined with hamstring flexibility, will reduce stress to the low-back by holding the upper body in proper alignment over the lower body. Good postural alignment also creates a look of health and wellness.
Beyond "looking good" we need strength to impart movement to our limbs. When muscles contract, the bones they attach to move. This allows us to perform functional activities associated with daily living, such as preparing food, carrying a briefcase or running for a bus. Movement is also necessary to enjoy recreational activities, such as cross-country skiing, aerobic dance and other fitness related activities that promote cardiovascular health.
The development of a balanced and well-toned musculature will create a protective shield against a number of stresses placed on the joints during daily life and recreational activities by increasing the stability in and around the joints. The muscular-skeletal systems also serve to house and protect a number of organs vital to our health and well-being.
As we age, the maintenance of strength becomes even more important. With a loss of muscular strength comes a shifting of internal organs and structures downward, giving in to the forces of gravity and compromising the functional capacity of the body systems.
Strength training is indeed the key to a healthy and increased quality of life. It requires a minimum of 20 minutes twice per week to gain the recognized benefits.
Please remember before beginning any exercise program, please seek the advice of your physician and then look for help with a nationally certified fitness professional.