Tired of traditional exercises with dumbbells, barbells, and machines? Traveling for an extended period and don't want to skip a strength training workout? Need a low cost and compact training tool that allows for total body strength training? Resistance bands make excellent training tools that are portable, lightweight, efficient, and economical. Whether you are beginning an exercise routine or are a seasoned athlete, resistance band training can help you meet your fitness or athletic performance goals.

The Beginning of Elastic Resistance Training.

The first recorded patent for an elastic training device rooted in Switzerland by Gustav Gossweiler in 1895. Referred to as a universal gymnastic apparatus that could replace more costly and complicated equipment, the training device was designed to be compact, easy to use, and secured anywhere.

In the 1960's and 1970's, the benefits of elastic resistance gained popularity with therapists and athletic trainers. Utilizing surgical tubing and bicycle inner tubes, patients were able to rehabilitate injured or weak muscles without the use of weights. This method of training slowly trickled into the eye of the general public as a fitness revolution started to take place. With its proven strength training benefits for therapeutic use, elastic resistance training evolved and grew into a fitness equipment category of its own.

What Type of Workout Elastic Resistance Bands and Tubes are Available?

Stretch and Therapy Flat Bands.
As a staple for rehabilitation training, flat bands are popular physical therapy training tool. These flat bands are typically 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. Medical and physical therapy settings will sometimes dispense therapy bands cut from a bulk roll to tailor a custom length band for the patients, a must have for shoulder rehabilitation. They can also be utilized for a multitude of other upper and lower body rehabilitation and strength training movements as a flat band or tied in a loop. These flat bands are available in economical packs by Aeromat with several bands at different resistance levels.

Resistance Tubes with Handles.
The characterized appearance of the standard resistance tubing with handles reflects a heavy duty latex rubber tube with plastic handles at each end. Most are manufactured to approximately 4 feet in length with various levels of resistances available to cater to all levels of fitness. Resistance tubes with handles are universal for upper and lower body exercises. By stepping on the band itself, users can perform exercises such as bicep curls, shoulder presses, and squats. Wrap the resistance tube around a stationary anchor point and face toward the bands to perform standing or seated rows, or face away from the bands to perform standing or seated chest presses.

Resistance Band Loops and Tube Loops.
To fill the limitation of lower body band exercises are short range resistance band and tubing loops. Patients and exercisers are able to utilize manufactured elastic resistance band loops and tubes for lower body specific movements such as lateral band walking, leg extensions and leg curls, as well as inner and outer leg lifts. Loop resistance bands are also available Velcro securing straps from manufacturers such as SPRI which prevents the band from sliding during a strength training workout.

Strength and Conditioning Resistance Bands.
Measuring approximately 40" long, strength and conditioning resistance bands resemble a large rubber band. These bands have various widths and most are less than 1/4 inch thick and supply significant elastic resistance. Strength bands are a staple in CrossFit facilities and other performance training facilities, frequently utilized for pull-up assistance, active stretching, as well as general conditioning. These heavy duty bands are also incorporated with powerlifting and general strength training, with many power racks and benches available with band pegs. By utilizing bands with barbell workouts, exercisers are able to increase the resistance without adding additional weight. The bands provide a variable resistance that offers a strength curve (torque) that is similar to that of human strength curve, in essence providing more elastic force when a muscle is applying more tension and less elastic force when a muscle is applying less tension.

Resistance Bands Evolved.

With heavy use or continuous stretching of bands to the extremes, the elastic band can wear down. Stroops Slastix technology incorporated in Stroops bands and loops provide a protective fabric sleeve that eliminates the risk of bands snapping from stretching them to extremes, and also protects the bands from wear-and-tear. These quality bands are made in the USA and available in a variety of lengths in popular resistance shapes, as well as part of a training system for upper and/or lower body specific training for martial arts or sport performance.

Where to Purchase Resistance Bands and Tubes

Ready to purchase resistance bands for total body strength training? Ironcompany.com offers a variety of resistance bands and loops for physical therapy, strength training, and conditioning for consumers, personal trainers, rehabilitation clinics, and sport performance facilities. Made in USA elastic resistance bands are also available for Government/Military purchase. GSA Contract GS-07F-0104M and CMAS contract 4-12-78-0066A.

About the Author
Jayson Operio’s certifications include: NASM CPT - National Academy of Sports Medicine - Certified Personal Trainer, ACIM CPT - American College of Integrative Medicine - Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and PEX CPT - APEX Fitness Group - 24/5 Complete Personal Trainer. Jayson previously was a personal trainer with 24 Hour Fitness, guiding clients to achieve their fitness and sport performance goals. He has almost twenty years of combined fitness industry sales experience with previous companies Busy Body Home Fitness, Precor Home Fitness, Polar Electro, and currently IRON COMPANY. His passion for fitness was set as a foundation at an early age. With his father in the military, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and running a couple of miles were the norm. It was cross training for physical fitness. Fast forward, and now with over fifteen years in the fitness industry, he has gained experience and knowledge about various products and training techniques, and how they can be utilized to better one's fitness level and/or sport performance. His personal performance goals to run faster, jump higher, cycle longer, and press heavier have influenced his commitment to find fitness solutions. Knowing how the right equipment with proper technique can lead to results first hand, he’s here to share my knowledge with others to find the right products at a great price. Contact Jayson here.