Strength Training

An ideal exercise regime for maintaining or promoting bone, muscle and hormone health is strength training.

Bone Health

Osteoporosis is not a disease in the clinical sense, but a condition. Bone strength can be affected by such things as heredity, diet, sex hormones, physical activity, lifestyle choices, and the use of certain medications.

Muscle Health

Changes in muscle size and ultimately strength levels are related to the loss of muscle fibers and shrinking of remaining fibers. Exercise studies have repeatedly demonstrated the capacity of older muscle to adapt to specifically designed training programs, resulting in gains in both strength and muscle size regardless of age or gender.

Hormone Health

Hormones are the chemical messengers that function to control and coordinate many of the body’s activities. Strength training provides the mechanical stress or “load” that stimulates the development of muscle and bone strength. Strength training can be site-specific, individualized, progressively overloaded and adjustable. Strength training also provides other benefits, such as improved balance and coordination.

» Read the full version from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Videos

Check the Campus Rec site for more than a dozen short videos that demonstrate how to perform strength training moves.