WHY STRENGTH MATTERS

High performance biokineticist Kelly Kaulback, from University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre, has the following tips:

Strength or resistance training is recommended for anyone participating in exercise. Using your own body weight, like in pole dancing, is a type of resistance training. Resistance training is effective in improving muscle strength, endurance, function, and joint stability.

These benefits help to improve your general ability, performance and play a role in reducing your risk of injury.

Resistance training strengthens different muscle groups which are often not strengthened through general participation in an activity. For example, resistance training can help to strengthen your core, gluteal, and stabilising muscles — muscles which are not often strengthened through normal activity such as walking or swimming. Furthermore, resistance training can be highly effective in a weight-loss programme, usually going hand in hand with general cardiovascular activity as resistance training recruits different muscles and energy systems that assist in the weight loss. Using weights or resistance bands are other forms of resistance training.