Muscle strength isn’t just something that pro athletes and bodybuilders need — we all need some type of muscle strength to make it through our daily lives. However, if you’re particularly active, muscle strength can also help you prevent injuries as well. However, there are right and wrong ways to get the strength you want.
Dr. Mark Conliffe at Commonwealth Musculoskeletal Medicine has the expertise to help you build muscle, no matter the reason. He is a neuromusculoskeletal medicine expert, meaning he helps not only gain muscle, but also to overcome injuries to your musculoskeletal system.
Your muscles are like other parts of your body — meaning as you age, they begin to deteriorate slowly. This is why building up your muscles is important throughout your life. By keeping up with your strength, you can slow the loss of lean muscle.
However, muscle strength is important for a number of other reasons. Your muscles play a key role in your ability to perform tasks, especially lifting objects. They also help you improve your overall health. Other examples of the benefits of having good muscle strength include:
Building strong, lean muscle also helps you to burn excess calories throughout the day. Along with a healthy diet, this can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Strong muscles also allow you to perform different activities that require strength, without getting burned out as easily.
Now that you know why muscle strength is so important to your health and body, how exactly do you get started? The answer is slowly and steadily. You never want to jump into a new workout routine or lifting schedule without first consulting Dr. Conliffe.
Without the proper technique or training, you run the risk of really hurting yourself. Dr. Conliffe can help you decide on a program that works for you, to slowly increase your overall muscle strength.
The best way for you to increase your strength is through something known as resistance training. Although you might think this only includes weightlifting, it actually encompasses so much more. Using resistance bands and bodyweight training are other examples of resistance training.
Resistance training works by not only increasing the size of your muscles, but also by allowing your nerves to better communicate with your muscles. This basically means that as your muscles get stronger, they also become better coordinated.
There are a lot of different types of resistance training that you can do to improve your overall strength. Specific exercises target certain groups of muscles throughout your body. Some of the common types of strength training exercises include:
All of these exercises can be done with either weights or body strength. As you build muscle and get stronger, you’ll want to increase the weight or resistance band that you’re using to continue to build lean muscle.
Make sure when you’re doing any kind of resistance training that you’re using the proper form. Improper stance or form can lead to injuries and a setback in your training. Another tip is to make sure you’re eating plenty of protein-packed foods, as they are essential to building muscle.
Although you may feel great and want to work out every day, giving yourself a rest day or two is just as important. Rest days give your muscles a chance to recover, which allows them to build up more effectively.
If you need a healthy and safe way to build up lean muscle, we can help. Call our office today at 502-771-1012, or book an appointment online with Dr. Conliffe using our booking tool.
