Bodyweight exercise

Bodyweight exercises are strength training exercises that use the individual's own weight to provide resistance against gravity.[1] Bodyweight exercises can enhance a range of biomotor abilities including strength, power, endurance, speed, flexibility, coordination and balance.[2] This type of strength training has grown in popularity for both recreational and professional athletes.[2] Bodyweight training utilises simple abilities such as pushing, pulling, squatting, bending, twisting and balancing.[2] Movements such as the push-up, the pull-up, and the sit-up are some of the most common bodyweight exercises.[3]

Pull-ups are a common bodyweight exercise.

Advantages
A bodyweight squat exercise requires little space and no equipment. After squatting down the exerciser stands up again while moving their arms back to their sides. The height of the squat can be adjusted higher or lower depending on the requirements of the individual i.e. if someone is unused to exercise half or quarter squats can be performed. Due to their movement range, squats are frequently considered to be among the most effective exercises for improving strength and endurance.[4]

While some exercises may require some type of equipment, the majority of bodyweight exercises require none. For those exercises that do require equipment, common items found in the household are usually sufficient (such as a bath towel for towel curls), or substitutes can usually be improvised (for example, using a horizontal tree branch to perform pull ups). Therefore, bodyweight exercises are convenient when travelling or on vacation, when access to a gym or specialised equipment may not be possible.[5] Another advantage of bodyweight training is that there are no costs involved.[1]

Disadvantages

As bodyweight exercises use the individual's own weight to provide the resistance for the movement, the weight being lifted is never greater than the weight of one's own body. Another disadvantage is that bodyweight training may be daunting to novices and seen to be too easy for experienced athletes.[1] Women, in general, also find it more difficult to do bodyweight exercises involving upper body strength and may be discouraged from undertaking these exercises in their fitness regimens.[1]

Bodyweight exercise for older adults

Some bodyweight exercises have been shown to benefit not just the young, but the elderly as well.[6] Older people undertaking bodyweight exercises benefit through increased muscle mass, increased mobility, increased bone density, decreased depression and improved sleep habits.[7][8] It is also believed that bodyweight training may assist in decreasing or even preventing cognitive decline as people age.[5] In addition, the increased risk of falls seen in elderly people can be mitigated by bodyweight training. Exercises focusing on the legs and abdomen such as squats, lunges and step ups are recommended to increase leg and core strength and, in doing so, reduce fall risk.[9] These bodyweight exercises provide multi-directional movement that mimics daily activities, and can thus be preferable to using weight machines.[9]

See also

References
  1. Harrison, Jeffrey S (April 2010). "Bodyweight Training: A Return To Basics". Strength and Conditioning Journal. 32 (2): 52–55. doi:10.1519/ssc.0b013e3181d5575c.
  2. Patel, Kesh (2014). The complete guide to bodyweight training. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. ISBN 9781472903129.
  3. Contreras, Bret (2013-09-06). Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9781450429290.
  4. Stryker, Krista, 'Squats for a strong lower body' in The 12-Minute Athlete, New York: Tiller Press, 2020, p.43
  5. "Resistance training – health benefits". Better Health Channel. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  6. Yamauchi, Junichiro; Nakayama, Satoshi; Ishii, Naokata (17 August 2009). "Effects of bodyweight-based exercise training on muscle functions of leg multi-joint movement in elderly individuals". Geriatrics & Gerontology International. 9 (3): 262–269. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0594.2009.00530.x. ISSN 1444-1586. PMID 19702936.
  7. Fujita, Eiji; Takeshima, Nobuo; Kato, Yoshiji; Koizumi, Daisuke; Narita, Makoto; Nakamoto, Hiroki; Rogers, Michael E. (2016-01-01). "Effects of Body-weight Squat Training on Muscular Size, Strength and Balance Ability in Physically Frail Older Adults". International Journal of Sport and Health Science. 14: 21–30. doi:10.5432/ijshs.201504.
  8. Seguin, Rebecca; Epping, Jacqueline; Buchner, David; Bloch, Rina; Nelson, Miriam (2002). "Growing stronger: Strength training for older adults" (PDF). Tufts University.
  9. "Physical activity for older adults". Nutrition Australia.
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