The Real Health Benefits Of Using Resistance Bands

Resistance bands have been around for over 100 years, and they were first used as rehabilitation tools, according to Verywell Health. They've since become popular tools to build muscle, strength, and flexibility, notes LiveScience. You might not think resistance bands give you as much of a workout as a hefty set of weights, but they can't be all that bad if NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Tom Brady uses them on a regular basis.

There are multiple benefits of using resistance bands with the first one being that they are relatively safe to use. Certified personal trainer Dannah Bollig tells Shape that while weight training can be hard on muscles, tendons, and ligaments, bands are safer because you don't have to worry about jerking a weight to complete a motion. In addition, you can always release a band in the middle of a difficult movement while that is sometimes difficult to do when working with weights.

Another benefit of resistance bands is that they promote functional fitness. Certified personal trainer Hayden Steele explains to Shape that bands don't rely on gravity as much as traditional weights do, and this results in a more functional workout because you gain more motor control and coordination as you push and pull on them. Bands also engage more than one muscle at a time, which makes them efficient. Personal trainer Jen Skym tells LiveScience that this means you can get more of a full-body workout when you use them.

Resistance bands are also versatile. Skym points out that anything you can do with weights, you can do with bands. As a bonus, you can move from one exercise to another with ease, which also helps your coordination, notes Shape. LiveScience adds that working with bands also increases your mobility and flexibility, and that makes them great tools for stretching.