Tips on Using Fitness Bands for Arm Exercises

There are a lot of equipments you can use out there for your workouts especially for arm strength training. One of the most common and probably among the easiest to use is the fitness band. It can be used for almost all of the muscles groups in the body from the legs up to your shoulders. There are several tension levels and they are usually indicated by color. They may differ depending on the brand though. And of course, fitness bands are a lot cheaper than machines. I've been using fitness bands myself especially when I train my arms. Let me share some tips on how to use the fitness bands for your arm workouts. This may help you a lot in targeting muscles effectively.

If you'll notice, fitness bands come in different colors. The main reason for that is each color represents the tension level of the bands. Usually, light-colored bands mean that the bands really do not have that much tension and it can be used if you're just starting out in working out. Dark-colored ones are usually those that have quite a lot of tension and are used for working out stronger muscles.

You should also be in the proper posture and position especially if you're working a specific group of muscles. Let's say you're working out your triceps. Just make sure that your elbows are high and hold the handles of the fitness bands with your hands facing down. For shoulder exercises, secure the fitness band with the forward foot. Bend your knees a little bit for balance.

Let's say you only have one fitness band. The more you use it, the more likely it gets easier for you. If you don't want to buy a new and stiffer fitness band, make a loop and step on it to increase the tension. Trust me, this really works great and you can feel the resistance increase significantly. Just be sure that there's still enough room for the band to stretch or else it's going to be hard doing standing triceps or shoulder extensions. Remember, it is more effective to straighten out your arms when doing shoulder exercises.

Take advantage of the fitness band's range of motion. Make sure you do the routines with proper form. It is much easier to perform the exercises with bands since it puts less stress on your wrists which is a huge problem on dumbbells.

If you think about it, fitness bands somehow are much safer to use than dumbbells. However, it has its own share of accidents. If you lose your grip on the handle, it could fly off somewhere or hit something. Make sure you step on it securely because if not, it might hit your face if it slips from your foothold. There may be some low quality bands out there that might snap easily. Just be careful when using bands. Make sure it is secure when you use it and always protect yourself. And most importantly, do your routines correctly.

Source:

Tony Horton
P90X