STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Kaizen Physiotherapy Health Centre prides itself on running a high-level Strength and Conditioning service with excellent space and equipment to match.
What is Strength and Conditioning?
Firstly, we tend to focus on movement quality to improve performance, this can be in any given sport focusing on speed, strength, and power, or equally, it could be improving performance in real-life scenarios, such as standing up from a chair or going out for a leisurely walk.
Secondly, we focus on preventing injury, developing better movement patterns helps to prevent injury in athletes which can help accelerate their career and maximise athletic performance. Alternatively, this could be an elderly client working on proprioception & balance to help them fall less frequently.
Strength and conditioning is a great way to transform your body and get huge results, whether you’re an athlete or amateur, expert or just starting out. It encompasses so much more than just lifting weights and focuses on a variety of tools to improve movement, health, and physical performance.
Strength & Conditioning used to be a niche environment believed only to be for athletes, but as more people come to understand the many benefits of movement-based fitness; the strength and conditioning market is growing. Methods include plyometrics, speed and agility, mobility, core stability, endurance and weight training and so much more depending on the individual or team’s needs!
Benefits of Strength and Conditioning:
Injury Prevention
A key pillar in strength and conditioning training is building up enough capacity to match the demands of your daily life, whether that is high level sport or simple activities of daily living.
Improved Performance
A strength and conditioning program will look to improve your performance over time. Programming is performance specific using science-based training methods. A Strength & Conditioning Coach is key to maximising your capabilities to improve performance as they will be able to identify key areas of improvement and also measure and monitor your results accurately.
Enhanced General Health
It is a truth universally acknowledged that exercise is good for our overall health and wellbeing, from mental to physical health.
Strengthen bones
Strength training doesn’t just increase the strength of our muscles. In fact, there are numerous articles and research papers into the benefits of strength training improving bone density. An article published by Harvard Medical School on the effect of strength training on bone health explains:
“Numerous studies have shown that strength training can play a role in slowing bone loss, and several show it can even build bone. This is tremendously useful to help offset age-related declines in bone mass. Activities that put stress on bones can nudge bone-forming cells into action. That stress comes from the tugging and pushing on bone that occurs during strength training (as well as weight-bearing aerobic exercises like walking or running). The result is stronger, denser bones.”
Improved mood
Exercise in all shapes and forms can help to release serotonin which improves mood and strength and conditioning is no different. Seeing the progress that comes with a science-based strength & conditioning programme can also be incredibly rewarding.
Increased Muscle Mass and Metabolism
Strength and conditioning training helps to build muscle, which in turn gives your metabolism a boost as muscle burns more calories at rest. An increase in lean muscle mass reduces the risk of insulin resistance, a group of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other factors which can lead to ill health such as elevated fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, hypertension, obesity and reduced HDL cholesterol.
Exercise Can Become More Enjoyable
As you build capacity, exercise becomes more enjoyable. This is not only because progress is motivating, but also because strength and conditioning helps to prevent injuries by developing quality movement patterns. A reduced concern with the risk of injury also helps to make training more enjoyable!
Faster Recovery After Injury
One of the principles of strength and conditioning is to reduce injury through building capacity, but unfortunately, sometimes injuries will still happen. Where strength and conditioning can help here is that your muscles will be stronger and more adapt which will aid the recovery process.
