Benefits of Using Resistance Bands – FLEXAFIT

One of the main benefits of resistance bands is that they are incredibly versatile. Resistance bands allow you to do a full-body workout in the comfort of your own home. Similar to weight training, resistance bands help build muscle mass and tone. Resistance bands are also amazing to use to help stretch and warm up your muscles before a workout which will increase flexibility and range of motion during your workout. Resistance bands are great for all fitness levels from beginners just starting their fitness journey, to pro athletes. One of the reasons why they’re great for beginners is that they’re super affordable and easy to transport. In addition, pregnant women can also benefit from using resistance bands because they are able to do light exercises without doing intense weight-training.

Want a more structured support with your off-ice training? Join a FLEXAFIT class online today!

 

What are Resistance Bands?

A resistance band is a lightweight elastic band that comes in different resistance levels used to induce muscular contraction. Whether for aesthetic purposes, athletic performance, or physical therapy, resistance bands can help you strengthen and/or stretch your muscles. These resistance bands can often be bought in a set. The four main categories of these bands include light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy

 

 

Same Muscle Activity as Training with Weights

Studies have shown that resistance band training provides similar strength gains to using conventional gym equipment. One significant distinction is that there is less force applied to the joints, which allows for more stimulation of the muscles with a decreased risk of damage. Resistance bands may enable you to keep working out and execute exercises that you can’t with dumbbells, which is ideal for anyone with current injuries or joint problems.

Greater Range of Motion

Stretching using resistance bands is especially beneficial for people with poor flexibility and mobility. Stretching is crucial especially if your muscles are stiff since it lengthens and relaxes the muscles. Mobility is also crucial as it increases your range of motion and enables you to move more efficiently. Resistance bands are a great advantage because various mobility exercises offer ways to improve your range of motion that you cannot do with bodyweight movements alone.

Improve Your Strength

You can improve your strength with the help of resistance bands, especially if you are a beginner at the gym or doing home workouts. For example, if you can’t do a full pull-up, the band will assist you through the range of motion until you can get to the point where you can do reps on your own.

Having a set of resistance bands with various resistance levels can greatly help you progress throughout your fitness journey. Beginners may use the extra-heavy or heavy band to start with pull-ups and then graduate to a higher level of resistance as their overall body strength improves.

Many resistance band exercises can target several muscle groups at the same time, allowing you to easily get a full-body workout. Depending on the resistance level of the band, your workout can be more challenging, enhancing both physical strength and balance.

Work Your Core

Your body requires stabilization to maintain form during numerous exercises due to the constant tension from the bands. In order to maintain balance, you must engage your core to avoid potential injuries.

You also have to control the resistance from snapping back into place, which creates greater stimulation and strength through the muscle’s full range of motion. The pull of the band makes it harder to cheat through momentum and encourages proper form.

Training Stability

Resistance band exercises are very effective for developing core strength and stability because they engage the “stabilizers” — the muscle groups that support and stabilize the body.

Cost-Effective

Resistance bands can be very cost-effective considering the number of exercises you can perform with them. A set of resistance bands can cost less than $30, which is cheaper than buying individual weights and can deliver comparable results.

This makes them an ideal option for beginners who want an effective home workout setup without the cost of a gym membership.

Good for Post-Injury Strengthening

To stay in great shape, compete well, and avoid frequent injuries, athletes must do the right exercises consistently. After an injury, sports professionals often use resistance bands to help athletes add resistance to movements without placing unnecessary strain on joints.

Resistance bands allow athletes to isolate specific muscles or joints, which may speed up recovery and rebuild strength and flexibility during rehabilitation.

Increase Mobility

Our range of motion diminishes as we age, and many people experience age-related muscle deterioration (sarcopenia). A study by the American Physiological Society found that muscle fibre loss occurs at a rate of nearly 1% per year for people aged 50 and older.

Resistance bands are one of the best tools for improving mobility and flexibility as we age. Because they come in various resistance levels, they are suitable for people who enjoy gentle daily stretching as well as those who need more challenging strength work.

Easy to Transport

Most resistance bands are lightweight and easy to transport — they can fit in a gym bag, suitcase, or backpack with no issue. Many resistance band kits are compact and take up very little space, making them ideal for travellers who want portable workout equipment that isn’t bulky.

Types of Resistance Bands

  • Resistance bands with handles

  • Therapy flat resistance bands

  • Loop bands

  • Leg and arm tube resistance bands

  • Power and mobility bands

 

1. Resistance bands with handles

The primary purpose of these tube bands with handles is to build muscle strength and size during your workout. What separates these bands from the typical flat bands is that the handles provide a sturdy grip which allows you to execute a range of exercises similar to those you might do in the gym with free weights or machines. Carabiners are used with stackable resistance bands to enable the user to mix bands to change the resistance level as desired.

Single Resistance Band Exercise Tube with Handle

 

2. Therapy flat resistance bands

Therapy flat resistance bands can frequently be discovered in therapy settings, such as physical therapists or sports therapist offices. They are wide and flat, making it simple to wrap them around your hand and easily change the length. They may also be split into smaller pieces or stretched. These bands can be used for general strength training as well as Pilates programs to provide added resistance.

Therapy Flat Resistance Bands Set

 

3. Loop bands

Despite being smaller and forming a closed loop, these bands are similar to therapy bands. These are primarily used for strengthening the legs and glutes. These can be found in the majority of gyms and physical therapy clinics. Get your set of 5 FLEXAFIT Resistance band loops

 

4. Leg and arm tube resistance bands

There are several different styles of these closed-loop tube bands, including leg bands with ankle cuffs and figure-8 designs with handles for the upper body. These have a limited range of exercises that can be done but are more muscle-specific.

Resistance band figure 8 cord tube with handle

 

5. Power and mobility bands

These power and mobility bands are the most popular resistance bands among people doing cross-training and powerlifting. They are commonly used to stretch, correct mobility concerns, offer different levels of resistance to weight training, and pull-up assistance.

Get your FLEXAFIT Resistance band

 

 

Resistance Band Exercises for Figure Skaters

1. Hip Strength

Crab Walk Squats

First place an appropriate-strength loop resistance band above your knees. Lower yourself into a deep squat position with your feet shoulder distance apart, and step your right foot out as far as you can against the resistance of the band. Follow with your left foot to return your feet to shoulder distance apart. Keep stepping sideways for as far as your space allows and then go back with the other foot leading, still facing the same direction.

[20-30 reps each direction]

Get your set of 5 FLEXAFIT Resistance band loops

 

 

2. Landing extension with the band

Place an appropriate-strength loop resistance band around your ankles. Stand on one leg and press your knee forward over your toes. Lifting and squeezing from your glute muscles, extend your free leg behind you to the full extension of the resistance band. Bring the free leg back in towards your free leg and then extend again.

[10-15 reps each side]

3. Kneeling lunge with band pull back

Place a thick band around the ankle joint, kneel forward with the knee. The band will pull back, while you try to press forward.

Do 30 sec – 1 min each side.

4. Seated toe raises/flex with band

In a seated position on the floor with the opposite knee bent, use a theraband to pull the toe up and point back down, strengthening the ankle.

Do 15-20 reps on each side.

5. Deep hip muscle strengthening exercises for figure skaters

Hip strength and stability helps absorb the impact of landings from on and off ice jumps.

It is important to focus on the deeper muscle groups in addition to the more superficial muscle groups. Coaches should focus on developing the athlete from the inside out– focusing on small stabilizing muscles that help injury prevention before focusing on maximum strength in the superficial muscle groups.

 

In this video, Signe demonstrates two hip exercises that will help develop strength and stability.

  • The first exercise is often called fire hydrants. Skaters can do this exercise with or without a band, adding resistance as they gain more strength.
  • The second exercise is a side plank with hip abduction. This is a more advanced exercise for skaters who have practiced the side plank and are ready for a harder variation.


For beginners, it is HIGHLY recommended to start off-ice training before trying the skills on the ice.  Not only does this prepare your body better, but it also helps prevent injuries.

Do you want more structured support with your off-ice training?

Our FLEXAFIT Beginner/Basic Skills Program is designed for beginner skaters. Our trainers will teach you the essential skills from complete basics to get your body set up for success on the ice. To make things even better, we will make sure your results are measurable with our skills tracking system that will ensure you are reaching your goals each week. Want to learn more? Fill out the form below.