The Real Benefit of Strength Training

Two weeks ago, Exercise Physiologists across Discover Strength gathered to learn and connect at the Annual DS Summit.  One of our keynote speakers, Dr. James Fisher (exercise science faculty at Solent University in Southampton, England) delivered a presentation on the real benefits of strength training.  Beyond muscle strength, muscle size, prevention of sarcopenia (loss of muscle as we age), and dynapenia (loss of strength as we age), Dr. Fisher walked through the current research on the benefits of resistance training for improving arterial blood pressure, bone mineral density, cardiovascular disease protection, cancer risk, and cognitive function.

His take-home message:

The real benefit of strength training is not the health benefits that strength training stimulates but instead, the ill-health effects that we don’t experience.