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What are resistance bands? How do I use them?

Essica Rahman -

Resistance bands are elastic bands that you can use either on their own or alongside additional strength training equipment to increase the resistance (and difficulty) of the movement. They’re an affordable piece of equipment that you can use in the gym, at home, or even outside in the park.

In this article, we’re going to cover the types of resistance bands, how you use them, and their key benefits.

Types of resistance bands

There are different kinds of resistance bands, and they come in a range of colors, sizes, and resistance levels. Usually, if you buy a pack of resistance bands, they will be color-coded according to the level of resistance that they offer.

Here are some of the main types of resistance bands:

  • Therapy bands, which are used for rehabilitation after injury or illness.
  • Mini bands, which are small, tight bands that can be used to improve strength. Most commonly, they are used around the thighs too add resistance to lower body exercises.
  • Figure 8 bands, which are shorter in length and have foam handles. They are generally used for upper body movements or rehabilitation.

How to use resistance bands

You can either use resistance bands on their own or with other gym equipment to add extra resistance or assistance. You can use them anywhere because they are portable and versatile.

The way that you use a resistance band depends on what type of exercise you are performing and the type of resistance band.

For example, if you are using therapy bands, you can hold them in a number of different orientations to target certain muscles from different angles. If you are using mini bands, you will most likely place the band around your mid-thigh as you practice lower body strength training exercises.

Resistance bands benefits

Here are some of the key benefits of using resistance bands in your workouts:

  1. Improved resistance in strength training exercises to boost your muscle strength
  2. Quicker recovery after injury or illness
  3. Extra variety in your workouts
  4. Assistance in your resistance training exercises
  5. Great for stretching
  6. Portable and versatile
  7. Suitable for most people
  8. Can be used almost anywhere
  9. An affordable form of gym equipment