Resistance bands originally were used to improve conditioning in nursing home residents. Today, many more exercisers are discovering the advantages of these bands. For one, they’re relatively inexpensive — a decent set costs about $25.
They’re easily adaptable so you can vary your workout on the fly by changing your movements to challenge your muscles in different ways, Travers says. And, the exercise bands allow you to increase or decrease the resistance simply by shortening or lengthening the band. One of the greatest advantages the bands offer over other strength-training equipment is that they fit easily into a suitcase, allowing you to continue your workout regimen on the road when you can’t get to a gym.
“Some guys who weightlift will say they can’t get anything out of the bands,” Travers says. “I tell them that at least it’s a way not to go more than four to seven days between your workouts, which is when you start to regress a little. It’s a great way to keep you within your routine.”
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