Resistance vs Strength Training: What's the Difference
Resistance training does not mean resistance training. Yes, we know, terrible joke. These are actually exercises that make the muscles contract against the external resistance. It differs from strength training in several ways that we will discuss below.
What is resistance training?
Resistance training involves using external resistance to exercise the muscles. This external resistance could be our own body weight, resistance bands, free weights, medicine balls, water bottles, bricks, and especially fat cats...well, maybe not the last. Basically anything that causes muscle contraction. Target ? Increase strength, power, hypertrophy and stamina.
What about strength exercises?
While resistance training includes many forms of exercise, strength training is more specific. The ultimate goal in its name: improving strength. This primarily involves lifting heavy weights for fewer repetitions, with the ultimate goal of becoming stronger. Simply put, it's the kind of exercise that helps lift that ridiculously heavy suitcase into the overhead stowage of an airplane with ease. Having a useful skill.
The difference between resistance and strength training
Looking at the range of resistance exercises, it is clear that the main difference between them and strength training is that getting stronger is not the only goal. It's one of them, but others can develop stamina or strength. Resistance exercises involve pushing or pulling the resistance of something (including the body), while strength training involves a large amount of muscle tissue by constantly increasing the weights lifted (all by decreasing the number of repetitions), which leads to muscle gain and strength.
Who is suitable for resistance training?
1 - Beginners
Doing resistance training before strength training is a good idea if you're new to fitness. Since all you need in the first place is your own body weight, you can improve your strength first before adding heavier loads by switching to strength training. This is critical to avoiding injury, and a qualified personal trainer can help you do it right from the start.
2- Build endurance
Bodyweight exercises like plank exercises, push-ups, and squats can also help build endurance, help you train for longer and put you in a better position to push harder with weights (if you want to) in the future.
3 - Strength trainers
If your ultimate goal is to get stronger, mixing intense strength training with resistance training can take the stress out of your body. Alternate between strength training and resistance training sessions, i.e. lower intensity exercises such as body weight exercises and stretching exercises.
4 - Who wants to enjoy functional fitness training
The benefits of this type of training are numerous, for our health, fitness and daily life. If you want to increase your bone density, strengthen your muscles, improve the quality of your sleep, and feel better mentally (oh endorphins), resistance training can help. Official medical guidelines insist that you spend at least two days a week in resistance training to be in better health and fitness.
While resistance training can be achieved using body weight alone, there is a lot to be said for mixing it with scientifically backed equipment. Our clubs are like a playground for sports enthusiasts (and even those who are not).
Take a look at our training areas, where you'll find innovative resistance machines and strength training equipment like Olympic weights, bells, medicine balls and more.