Muscle strengthening allows you to strengthen your figure, tone your muscles, but also prevent certain chronic diseases.
- For muscle strengthening, you can practice different exercises such as squats, lifting weights or even planking.
- Strengthening your muscles helps protect your joints and therefore reduce the risk of falling once you get older.
- Muscle strengthening would also have an effect on the prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes or cancer.
Squats, abs, core, bench press… These different exercises aim to work the muscles, in order to strengthen them and make them more mobile. On a daily basis, we strengthen our muscles without even realizing it (climbing stairs, carrying shopping bags, etc.).
The effects of muscle strengthening on the body
Like aerobic exercises, such as swimming, running or cycling, muscle strengthening has multiple health benefits. “Until recently, aerobic physical activity was highlighted for its health benefits, while resistance training was often absent from global public health policies (…) But irrefutable scientific evidence has accumulated over the years and make clear the fact that resistance muscular work has a host of health benefits, independently of aerobic activity.said DJ McDonough, a cardiovascular disease researcher at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, National Geographic.
Physical changes are usually observed when a person regularly engages in muscle-strengthening activities. Core training, lifting weights or even squats make the muscles stronger, the thighs and buttocks firmer and strengthen the abdominal muscles. These exercises also increase the basal metabolism, which means you burn more calories at rest.
By practicing strengthening, the muscles become stronger and stronger, which helps protect the joints. An interesting benefit, especially after the age of 50 when bones and joints become fragile.
Muscle strengthening: a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases
In addition to the benefits “physical”, the reinforcement would also have an action on the prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes or cancer. According to a study published in the BMJ magazine, muscle-strengthening activities have been associated with a 10% to 17% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality. The researchers recommended practicing 30 to 60 minutes of muscle strengthening to benefit from the benefits of this sport.
Strength training can help protect the brain
Strengthening muscles could reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers from the University of Sydney observed that lifting weights for six months could help protect areas of the brain particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.
Physical exercise is therefore essential for physical and mental well-being. In France, health authorities recommend practicing 30 minutes ofphysical activity of moderate to high intensity at least five days a week.
