Strength Training: It’s about more than building muscle

By Causenta Wellness

When you hear the term strength training, you think about professional athletes, weightlifters, and other fitness buffs. But, did you know that strength training has benefits far beyond fitness goals? It’s true. 

Strength training interfaces with the brain and nervous system. When you determine how well the brain and nervous system are functioning to guide muscle movement, it can help determine a strategy for strength training.

Strength Training Makes A Difference

Strength training benefits senior citizens by helping them to maintain balance to prevent falls and promote mobility. It can also help cancer patients better tolerate chemotherapy and lessen side effects like neuropathy

“At Causenta, we are using science to make a real difference for our patients and their loved ones all with strength training,” says Dr. Tom Incledon, Founder & CEO of Causenta.

“Family members often see the results of what we do as a miracle, but we can reproduce the results for all types of patients based on what we know about the science, so it isn’t a miracle.”

Strength Training Results

The results of Causenta strength training patients experience is real.

“People come in in wheelchairs and between one hour and three days later, those same people are up and walking around,” says Incledon.

The team at Causenta combines neurology and strength training to help people gain enough strength to walk down the hallway or up a flight of steps.

“For these patients and their families, this is about much more than just physical strength,” says Incledon. “It gives them a sense of independence and a better quality of life. They can take a shower, go to the store, or go to the bathroom on their own. Their fear is gone, and the mental benefits are huge.”

Strength Training Becomes More Important With Age

Frail people cannot control their bodies well, which leads them to move less. That lack of regular movement causes loss of muscle mass, which then adds to their frailty. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Prior to ages 55-60, cardiovascular fitness and health are what people concentrate on because they are trying to avoid what a lot of people experience as they age – heart disease and stroke. After this stage, as you move into the 70s and 80s, what becomes important is strength.

“If you do not concentrate on strength training, it doesn’t matter that you used to be a runner because you won’t have core strength,” says Incledon. “So, as you age, you may find yourself in a position where you can barely walk to the bathroom alone.”

Our Strength Training Methodology

At Causenta, we look inside the body to determine what strength training will give a patient the most benefits. First, we explore the brain and nervous system and how they communicate.

Based on what we see, we create a custom strength training regimen to address the patient’s individual concerns. “Some people do basic movements like deadlift or benchpress,” says Incledon. “While others do other more focused movements where we can challenge a problem area to help it heal faster.”

The strength training regimens at Causenta are designed by Dr. Matt Zanis. Dr. Matt is well-known for his expertise in the fields of physical therapy and movement. Throughout his career, he has worked directly with the U.S. Olympic team and with recovering cancer patients, providing movement and exercise rehabilitation techniques that have helped them become mobile and independent.

As a published author and specialist in injury rehabilitation and musculoskeletal pain, Dr. Matt has aided professional athletes and sports organizations around the country in their health journeys.

Don’t Wait Too Long To Start

“I’ve tested over 100,000 people over the years,” says Incledon. “And, it has become abundantly clear to me that we – the human race – rely on our youth.”

People compensate for health issues without even realizing it, so vitamin or mineral deficiencies can last for decades before the results are felt and negatively impact health. Fast forward 20 more years and people finally start feeling bad enough to want to uncover what’s happening inside.

“That’s where we come in,” says Incledon. “We look within the body to determine the issues and then we can correct them. People see how much better they can feel and function. Once you eliminate internal obstacles, people can do things that they couldn’t do before regardless of age.”

You Can Even Start At Home

If you want to get started with strength training at home, Dr. Matt has posted some great demonstration videos on YouTube. The great thing is that you need little to no equipment for strength training. If you decide to get free weights or resistance bands to challenge yourself more, they are fairly inexpensive and can be found easily online and at stores. 

As with all strength training, we recommend some basic rules of thumb:

  • Consult a doctor before beginning any strength training regimen.
  • Breathe throughout your exercise routine.
  • Vary parts of the body you train and do not train the same part of the body two days in a row. This is especially important for seniors.
  • Build weight as you train so that muscles continue to be challenged and gain mass. 
  • Be careful. If you steady yourself by using a wall or train the arms while sitting down, that is OK. The last thing you want to do is fall and break a bone like a hip or a leg because the recovery can be difficult, especially as you age. 

We Will Create A Plan For You

Whether someone is battling cancer or is trying to maintain an independent life, we will partner with each patient to understand his or her individual goals, as well as any underlying health concerns so that we can ensure the strength training plan we develop will create positive change in that person’s life.

We also work with patients on strength training to help them boost wellness and overall health before it becomes an issue. 

If you are interested in exploring the benefits of strength training aside from looking a bit more fit, contact us today. Your 30-minute consultation will start you on the path to feeling better and achieving a stronger body for today and tomorrow. We look forward to speaking with you.

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