In
the first article I wrote the differences between each type of
resistance band.
I have also said that these bands help you
working in a different way, and they can be used everywhere due to
their little weight and space needed. Indeed, with a few bands, that
you can put on your pocket, you can do extremely hard workouts or
create a really heavy endurance.
So,
in this second article I wrote about the workouts you can do. But
first I have to remember you two things:
-You
can sum the general resistance by using more bands at the same time.
You can even add an elastic band to your dumbbell/barbell to create a
mixed workout (and a higher resistance).
-Each
band works differently from a common dumbbell or barbell, where the
resistance is given by the gravity force. In fact, here the
resistance is given by: the general tension of the band and the
stretch of it. In other words, the more the band is stretched, the
higher the resistance, until a certain limit. This means that the
band keeps adding resistance until its limit.
This
second particular property leads to a different use of your muscles.
Now I explain the differences.
-Fixed
weights
You know, If you have to lift a fixed weight (dumbbell, barbell,
body-weight) you’ll push it with an explosive strength in the very
first moments, then your force will gradually decrease.
These
two graphics explain it. In a bench press, squat, shoulder press,
etc, the velocity improves (graphic on top), but the force decreases
(graphic on bottom).
-Progressive
weights
Elastic bands have a progressive add of resistance. Unlike of the
fixed weights, in this case your muscles will always provide a
stronger force.
This either can be a good thing, but even a bad thing. I explain with
an example:
-in a bicep curl with dumbbell, after a certain point of the
movement, your muscles will decrease their force because the weight
is in a position that don’t require other additions of strength.
-in
a bicep curl with an elastic band, your muscles will always increase
their force and this can lead to a too-expensive waste of muscle
strength, even if in the very first moments their force will be less
than a dumbbell exercise.
-What
kind of workout can be done?
Like
I said, you can use the band everywhere and it is extremely
adaptable. So you will be able to do the most exercises you do with a
dumbbell or body-weight. Plus, you will be able to do new workouts.
I list down a few exercises you can do and why I suggest/not suggest
to do them. Let’s start from top to bottom (of the body).
Upper Body
-Band
Bench Press:
This is the first
workout I think when I think about the “upper body”. Feet on
floor, lay on a bench, grasp a dumbbell/barbell and lift them
up/down. It is very easy do to with a fixed weight, but with a
resistance band it requires a good place to fix the elastic.
In fact, if you push an extremity with your shoulders, the band won’t
be stretched enough to give you the right resistance. For example, it
may be too long (so to exceed the length of your arms) or too short
(so it will be a lot more difficult to have the proper range of
movement).
So the best choice is to put an extremity of the band below the bench
to create a straight line with your shoulders.
See the photo:
-Band
Row:
This is a good workout for an elastic band’s user. You just have to
fix an extremity somewhere, at shoulder height (under a weight or
with a knot on a bar). Go a few steps back (the farther you are, the
higher the resistance) and pull it back.
You can set the height of the fixed extremity in order to work on
different inclinations.
Cross
body exercises:
Since
the band can be fixed at any height and can be used at every
angulation, you can work on the common gym exercises in a different
way. Let’s talk about the “cross body” workouts. You have a
sword on your hand: in order to swing it, you have to move the whole
arm from the outside to the inside of your body. This is a “cross”
exercise. You know, they are primarily done with a cable in the gym,
but we can do them with our bands!
-Band
Cross Triceps Extension:
Fix
an extremity of the band above your arm’s height (the higher, the
smaller the angulation) and cross it from the outside to the inside.
You can use both your hands.
-Band
Cross Bicep Curl:
This
is the opposite movement of the “band cross tricep extension”.
Fix an extremity of the band below (the lower, the smaller the
angulation) your arm’s height and cross it. You can use both your
hands.
Please note that:
-If
you turn your body to face the fixed extremity, if it’s fixed below
your arm’s level, then you will do a “regular bicep curl”. Else
you can curl your biceps from different angolations.
-Band
Overhead Triceps Extension:
This is another type of “triceps extension”. Fix an extremity of
the band above your head, turn until you give your back to that
extremity and then push your arms down.
Abs & Core
-Band
Crunch:
Crunches
are a common workout. Lie down with your knees bent and feet flat on
the floor, then raise your shoulders, head and neck. That’s the
standard, body weight, curl.
With an elastic band you can do it
in a different way. I give you two examples:
1) Fix an extremity of the band above yourself, knee on floor, and push
it down with your abdominals (I mean that the impulse of the
movement should be provided by your abs).
2) Lie on floor, fix an extremity of the band at your same height, and
do a standard crunch while pulling the band.
-Band
Glute Bridge:
Glute
bridges let you work the opposite muscles of crunches. Pass your
elastic band on your lower abs and hips, while grabbing it with your
hands. Lie down with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, then
raise your midsection until it forms a straight line with your
thighs.
-Band
Side Plank Lift and Leg Raise:
Lie
on side on floor, with forearm on floor under shoulder perpendicular
to body.
Bend
at the waist and lower your hip and leg towards the ground and then
back up again while you swing your leg up.
You can put your elastic band on your feet or on your lower abs and
hips.
Legs
-Band
Leg Press:
Lie on floor, grab an extremity with your hands (or you can fix it a
few steps back from your head) and push the other side with your leg.
Leg
Swings
I
found that working on classic leg workouts (such as squats or
deadlifts) with the bands is a bit complicated. You
may want a great force for your legs and it is difficult when you
have to move your leg and keep the band firm at the same time.
So,
that’s why I think that “leg swings” are the best workout when
you use an elastic band. With
a combination of these four exercises below (but the last two
workouts are a variant of the second one), you will work your legs on
every angulation (and it may be extremely useful if you play some
sport such as basket, soccer, or even running).
-Band
Lateral Leg Swing:
Fix an extremity of the band and the other on your ankle. Then swing
your leg from the outside to the inside and vice-versa.
-Band
Front/Rear Leg Swing:
Fix
an extremity of the band and the other on your ankle. Then swing your
leg on your front and back. You can fix the elastic band on both your
feet.
Band Front/Rear Leg Swing
variants
-Band
High Knees:
Fix
an extremity of the band and the other on your ankle, or fix it on
both your feet. This time you raise your leg from bottom to top (in
order to from a straight line from hips to quadriceps).
-Band
Butt Kickers:
Fix
an extremity of the band and the other on your ankle, or fix it on
both your feet. Then raise your leg back in order to kick your butt
with the ankle.
Other workouts
Make
Light Items Extremely Heavy!
A
short note on another characteristic of resistance bands. I explain
it with an example. Put your band below your feet and take the other
with your hands. Grab a game-ball (like a volley ball or football
one): the weight of that ball should be very low (just a few grams).
Now, throw that ball back raising your arms from bottom to up. Now
the weight of the ball will be HUGE (because you are lifting the band
too)! But if it crashes down it will only have a few grams!
Professional Resistance
Band Workouts
Since we are talking about resistance bands, we have to quote the
training methods you can do with some professional bands.
For
example, certain bands can stretch from one to fifteen meters and can
be used to do explosive, massive workouts such as sprints, jumps or
agility.
Other bands grants impressive forces and can be used for long lasting
strength training, for example the exercise you keep pushing ahead
trying to win the resistance of the band.
With
a “low-cost” band you can do quite the same workouts, but that
band will have a limited stretching capacity and resistance.
Conclusions
We
have seen the different bands and the different workouts you can do.
There is not a better workout from one to another or from barbell to
elastic band, but you have to know what kind of training you want to
do and now we have seen the limits and the key points of the
resistance bands!