Strength training is a type of exercise that utilizes resistance as a means of improving strength and endurance by building muscle mass, which includes weightlifting. Strength training has been shown to have many benefits, including physical and cognitive, and is a way to help increase and/or maintain muscle mass over time.
According to the National Institutes of Health, strength training helps prevent sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, a process that actually occurs naturally with age. Such exercise is also associated with a decreased risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions, and can improve bone health (2; for more information about bone health, read my previous post The Value of Vitamin D). Given that strength training involves muscle contraction in order to move objects like weights or resistance bands, small muscle tears (microtears) form, which are rebuilt with rest and recovery to create bigger, stronger muscles; that’s why rest days are so important after intense exercise! (1,3)
There are certainly many benefits to weight training, but always consult with a medical professional before starting an exercise program. For more information about strength training, check out some of the links below.
Works Cited
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/how-can-strength-training-build-healthier-bodies-we-age#sarcopenia
- https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2020/03/maintain-your-muscle
- https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/its-the-recovery-not-the-exercise-that-builds-muscles/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CYou%20make%20microtears%20in%20your,within%2024%20to%2048%20hours.
Science with Mandy 
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