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Strength training is an important part of an overall fitness program. Here's what strength training can do for you — and how to get started. By Mayo Clinic Staff
Related articleStrength training: How-to video collectionWant to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently? Strength training to the rescue! Strength training is a key component of overall health and fitness for everyone. Use it or lose itLean muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. Your body fat percentage will increase over time if you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose over time. Strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass at any age. Strength training may also help you:
Consider the optionsStrength training can be done at home or in the gym. Common choices may include:
Getting startedIf you have a chronic condition, or if you're older than age 40 and you haven't been active recently, check with your doctor before beginning a strength training or aerobic fitness program. Before beginning strength training, consider warming up with brisk walking or another aerobic activity for five or 10 minutes. Cold muscles are more prone to injury than are warm muscles. Choose a weight or resistance level heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions. When you can easily do more repetitions of a certain exercise, gradually increase the weight or resistance. Research shows that a single set of 12 to 15 repetitions with the proper weight can build muscle efficiently in most people and can be as effective as three sets of the same exercise. As long as you take the muscle you are working to fatigue — meaning you can't lift another repetition — you are doing the work necessary to make the muscle stronger. And fatiguing at a higher number of repetitions means you likely are using a lighter weight, which will make it easier for you to control and maintain correct form. To give your muscles time to recover, rest one full day between exercising each specific muscle group. Also be careful to listen to your body. If a strength training exercise causes pain, stop the exercise. Consider trying a lower weight or trying it again in a few days. It's important to use proper technique in strength training to avoid injuries. If you're new to strength training, work with a trainer or other fitness specialist to learn correct form and technique. Remember to breathe as you strength train. When to expect resultsYou don't need to spend hours a day lifting weights to benefit from strength training. You can see significant improvement in your strength with just two or three 20- or 30-minute strength training sessions a week. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines:
As you incorporate strength training exercises into your fitness routine, you may notice improvement in your strength over time. As your muscle mass increases, you'll likely be able to lift weight more easily and for longer periods of time. If you keep it up, you can continue to increase your strength, even if you're not in shape when you begin. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To
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. Which of the following occurs when a muscle fatigues?Which of the following occurs when a muscle fatigues? Its energy reserves are depleted.
Which of the following factors have been suggested as contributing to muscle fatigue?Muscle fatigue has a number of possible causes including impaired blood flow, ion imbalance within the muscle, nervous fatigue, loss of desire to continue, and most importantly, the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle.
Which of the following is correct regarding muscle fatigue and recovery?Which of the following is correct regarding muscle fatigue and recovery? - Recovery continues after exertion has ended because CP levels within muscle fibers remain relatively high. - During peak activity, much of the large amounts of lactate produced diffuse into the muscle fibers from the bloodstream.
Which of the following is not a known cause of muscle fatigue?Answer and Explanation: The option that does not lead to muscle fatigue is option (d) maximal tetanic tension. This mechanism results in stimuli that cause twitches.
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