Weights VS. Resistance Bands....Which is Better?
Key Takeaways from the replay above:
ECCENTRIC phase of resistance training:
- Using the muscle while it is getting LONGER.
- Most studies show there is more actual gain in strength/mass (not MASSIVELY, but I want to point out that this should be a focus!)
- It is important to not neglect this in dry land/strength training!
ISOMETRIC phase of resistance training:
- Using the muscle while it is not shortening or lengthening.
- This is shown to actually aid in pain relief. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25979840)
- Every exercise has an isometric version of it...if you need help thinking of it, ask me!
CONCENTRIC phase of resistance training:
- Using the muscle while it is getting shorter (think bicep curl).
- Focus on plyometrics/explosive movements in this phase.
WEIGHTS VS RESISTANCE BANDS?...which is better?
Neither is better or worse, per se, but they are good for different things. A weight is going to stay the same weight no matter where it is through a movement. A resistance band is going to get MORE resistance at its end range and have way less resistance at its starting point.
Take a lat pulldown for example...if you are on a lat pulldown machine pulling 60#, it is going to feel and move like 60# the whole range you pull it through. If you are pulling down through a thick 60# rouge resistance band, it is going to get UP TO 60# resistance, but it might start out at 20# when it is overhead and then build through the range. This lets me work on control at end ranges differently.
