Starting a new strength and conditioning program can be intimidating, but the benefits to your general health and sporting ability are vast. Whether you are an athlete looking to improve your performance in your sport or simply trying to live a healthier lifestyle, strength and conditioning training can help you reach your goals.
Benefits for General Health:
- Improves bone density: Strength training has been shown to increase bone density, which is particularly important for women who are at higher risk for osteoporosis.
- Increases muscle mass: As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, which can lead to weakness and decreased mobility. Strength training can help to reverse this process, increasing muscle mass and improving overall strength.
- Boosts metabolism: Strength training can help to increase metabolism, leading to improved weight management and overall health.
- Reduces the risk of chronic diseases: Strength training has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
- Improves balance and coordination: As we age, balance and coordination can become more challenging. Strength training can help to improve these skills, reducing the risk of falls and
injury.
Benefits for Sporting Ability:
- Increases power and explosiveness: Strength training can help to increase power and explosiveness, which is particularly important for athletes in sports such as rugby, netball
and soccer. - Improves endurance: Strength training can improve endurance by increasing the efficiency of the cardiovascular system and improving the body’s ability to use oxygen (key for any
triathlon sports). - Enhances agility and speed: Strength training can help to improve agility and speed, which is important for athletes in sports such as tennis, soccer, and track and field.
- Reduces the risk of injury: Strength training can help to reduce the risk of injury by improving joint stability, flexibility, and balance.
- Enhances recovery: Strength training can help to enhance recovery by improving blood flow and increasing the body’s ability to remove waste products from the muscles.
Starting a New Strength and Conditioning Program:
- Set realistic goals: Before starting a new strength and conditioning program, it's important to set realistic goals. These goals should be specific, measurable, and achievable.
- Consult with a professional: We can help you design a program that’s tailored to your goals and needs for you to carry out independently at your local gym or even from your own
home.
Our physiotherapists also regularly run Strength and Conditioning classes from our Burleigh clinic twice a week on a Wednesday and Friday morning.
Tips for a Strengthening Program:
- Start slowly: It’s important to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. This will help to prevent injury and ensure that you are making progress.
- Mix it up: It’s important to vary your workouts to prevent boredom and ensure that you are working all of the major muscle groups.
- Listen to your body: It’s important to listen to your body and rest when you need to. Overtraining can lead to injury and burnout, so it’s important to give your body time to
recover.
In conclusion, starting a new strength and conditioning program can have numerous benefits for both general health and sporting ability. By following an effective program, you can achieve great
results within sport/everyday life, helping you achieve your goals. If you are someone who thinks they would like to start a new strength program but aren’t sure where to start – get in touch and our physiotherapists can help create a program that works best for you around your schedule.
