Fitness Bands Are Small but Smart Workout Tools
When it comes to home workout equipment, we tend to think big, expensive and trendy.
But don’t forget how powerful the small, simple, and inexpensive tools can be, too.
Fitness bands are among the hottest items, with sales skyrocketing during the pandemic. Smart folks over 50 should keep the sales going strong.
It’s easy to see why.
Elastic exercise bands have been common in physical therapy offices, gyms and fitness studios. They’re a low-cost, lightweight option for resistance training, which is crucial for people over 50.
Staying strong is essential for staying independent, performing daily tasks and enjoying sports and hobbies. Resistance training – or weightlifting – is necessary to maintain muscle, strengthen bones, and prevent falling.
You can buy resistance bands for cheap online and in many stores. You can keep them at home, pack them in a bag, or take them outside.
Bands are made of plastic, rubber or fabric, and provide different levels of resistance. You can use bands for arm curls, presses, seated rows, squats and all kinds of stretches, moving at your own pace.
Bands help with muscular endurance and joint stabilization, says the National Academy of Sports Medicine. They help you move in multiple planes of motion and achieve greater range of motion.
Talk to us about strength training, including resistance bands and the safe, effective activities we can help you with.
Gordon Palmer, CPT, Functional Aging Specialist, Brain Health Trainer
Project Body Smart at Global Fitness & Racquet Centre, Kelowna BC Canada
