Buying guide: what to know before buying elastic resistance bands online
If you don't know what elastic bands are or how to use elastic bands for exercises in your daily routine, in this simple buying guide we will try to explain it to you. In no time you will notice visible improvements when using the bands during your workout. Elastic exercise bands are one of the most widely used toning accessories in the home because of the small footprint and the wide range of exercises they allow you to perform. Before deciding which elastic band to choose, you should take into account several aspects such as the use you are going to give it, the intensity you want during your workout and the area you are going to work, among others.
Tension Level
Bands may offer more or less resistance. Depending on your fitness or your level of knowledge and experience at working out with elastic exercise bands you should buy a band with more or less resistance.
Sometimes the tension level of the band is defined by its color. Therefore, you should know that there are colored elastic bands, their color is usually different according to the resistance they have. For example, black elastic bands are usually of high or very high resistance and yellow elastic bands are of soft resistance. However, you should pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions, which will indicate the resistance of the bands.
Handles
There are elastic exercise bands that come with handles to hold them directly, but there are others that include handles made of different materials, so that they can be held more easily and safely.
Objective
Depending on the muscle group you want to work out, it may be more advisable to choose a band with a higher or lower level of resistance, as for small muscle groups you generally need a lower level of tension than for large muscle groups.
What types of exercises with elastic bands can I do?
If you are wondering what exercises to do with elastic bands, here are some of the most common ones and you will have to take them into account to know how to choose elastic bands. You should know that elastic bands allow different types of exercises depending on the area of your body you want to train. The most common uses are:
- Elastic bands for squats: Glute elastic bands are one of the most widespread uses of this accessory. The gluteus is one of the most sought after areas to strengthen and gluteal elastic bands allow you to do simple exercises with visible results.
- Elastic bands for arm exercises: Strong elastic bands allow you to train this area of your body by toning your biceps and forearms.
- Elastic bands for leg exercises: This toning accessory is very useful to exercise your legs with exercises such as leg extensions, front squat, standing abduction, seated abduction, plantar flexion, walking laterally with the band, gluteal bridge, among others.
Although these are the most widespread uses, elastic bands are also used for pilates as well as elastic bands for yoga or even elastic bands are used for crossfit being included in their routines.
Use of elastic bands in physiotherapy
Here we could highlight the usefulness of the bands in this medical area. Without getting into the complications of specialists, but just to mention their value. Although not as widespread, the use of bands is also possible in the medical area. For example, elastic bands in physiotherapy offer the possibility to perform appropriate movements that aid in physical recovery. Likewise, elastic bands in rehabilitation are also widely used as muscle reinforcement or as a complement to some exercises.
What are the benefits of exercising with elastic resistance bands?
Elastic exercise bands are very simple accessories that offer a series of important advantages and benefits. Among them we should highlight the following:
- · They are very economical, easy to transport and store, and ideal for training at home.
- · They can be used to work all the muscle groups.
- · They add a variety of movements to training sessions.
- · They are easily adapted to multiple fitness levels.
- · They are very effective as part of a rehabilitation programme.
Precautions with the use of elastic bands for exercising
The use of elastic bands is very simple, but in spite of this, a bad use of this accessory can cause important damages and injuries. In addition, here are some tips you can follow to increase the life of your elastic band. First of all, once you have used your band for training, store it in a bag or box in a ventilated place to prevent it from getting dusty and dirty. Also, to keep your band from sticking, you can put a talcum powder on it so that the elastic properties are preserved for a longer period of time. Avoid letting your fingernails touch the band as this can damage it, to use it correctly you will have to surround the palm of your hand with the band or hold it between your thumb and index finger. It is important not to use any accessory (ring, watch, earrings...) when using the tape, this can damage it and even render it unusable. Finally, at least once every 30 days, wash it with water and neutral soap to remove sweat and dry it well.