Variable resistance weight lifting provides consistent resistance throughout the movement, resulting in a more intense workout and improved muscle strength. Specialized machines are required, but it provides a more comprehensive workout for stabilizer muscles. However, it is limited to one type of lift and requires multiple machines for a full-body workout.
In fitness, variable resistance refers to a type of weight lifting in which the amount of resistance the weight applies will vary throughout the movement of the exercise. As a result, the muscles must reach a more consistent level of effort to complete the lift for a more intense overall workout. In order to provide different amounts of resistance at different times, these exercises require complex machines designed specifically for this type of athletic training.
Despite what the name implies, variable-resistance exercises actually provide more constant resistance to your muscles than a particular exercise. For example, when an athlete performs pushups using traditional free weights, the amount of weight on the athlete’s hands does not change. However, as the angle of the arms changes, the amount of tension on the biceps changes. The biceps should work the hardest at the beginning of the lift, but once the athlete has folded their arms to the final position, the biceps do almost no work.
Performing pushups using a variable resistance machine will provide constant resistance on the biceps even as the angle of your arms changes. The total amount of weight changes to compensate for the change in the position of the arms. As a result, the biceps get a more complete workout because they are under a constant level of resistance.
The increased demand this training places on specific muscles makes this form of athletic training more effective than traditional free-weight exercises for building muscle strength. Muscles have to work harder to perform a single repetition, so athletes don’t have to perform as many repetitions of a lift to get the same benefit as they would from more repetitions using free weights. Additionally, because the muscle must function through its full range of motion, variable resistance training provides a more comprehensive workout for various stabilizer muscles, which can improve overall athletic performance.
One drawback of this type of training is that it requires highly specialized equipment. The amount of weight must change throughout the exercise, so variable resistance machines must use an elaborate network of pulleys to make the proper adjustments. Also, because these machines compensate for different body angles during an exercise, they must be specialized for a certain lift. An athlete can use a single set of weights to perform a variety of exercises, but a variable resistance machine will allow them to perform only one type of lift. To get a full body workout would require the athlete to use several machines.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
