A R T I N G R E S I S T a N C E L E V E L

PHRASES, TERMS, TIPS

& GUIDELINES

S T A R T I N G R E S I S T A N C E L E V E L

If you begin weight training at too high a level, you risk serious injury. You will also develop poor form, which will hinder your efforts and discourage you. Use this as a guideline: if you cannot lift the weight eight times with proper form, the weight is too heavy. Similarly, don’t choose too light a weight; the last two or three repetitions of your set should be difficult.

POWER

Power is the rate of performing work. Power during a repetition is defined as the weight lifted times the vertical distance the weight is lifted divided by the time to complete the repetition. Power during a repetition can be increased by lifting the same weight the same vertical distance in a shorter period of time. Power can also be increased by lifting a heavier resistance the same vertical distance in the same period of time as a lighter resistance.

PROGRESS GRADUALLY

Increase reps before increasing resistance. Reduce rest intervals between sets to increase intensity.

REST INTERVAL

Allow a brief pause between sets to give your muscles a chance to partially recover before working them again. For power and muscle size development allow a 3 to 4 minute rest interval between sets. For muscular endurance and definition allow a 30 second rest interval. For strength training allow a 60 to 90 second rest interval.

RISK SHOULD NOT EXCEED BENEFIT

If the risk of a specific exercise exceeds its potential benefit, it is best to stay on the conservative side. There are several ways to work specific muscle groups. Choose those that provide minimal risk. Ask a fitness professional for guidance.

PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE

The principle of continually adding more weight to a specific exercise as your muscles become stronger to adapt to the heavier weights.

PROPER FORM

Focus on the proper motion of the exercise and concentrate on the specific muscles being used. Do not sacrifice proper form to lift heavier weight or to perform more repetitions. Proper form also means lifting in a smooth, fluid motion. If you feel strain elsewhere, you should re-evaluate the amount of weight you are lifting or have a qualified professional critique your exercise motion.

ROUTINE

The specific exercises, sets, reps and weight for a specific body part.

SET

This is a group of repetitions performed continuously without stopping. While a set can be made up of any number of repetitions, sets typically range from 1 to 15 repetitions.

SMALL MUSCLE GROUP EXERCISE

Single joint movement and isolation exercises (i.e. bicep curls, tricep pressdowns and leg extensions).

PROPER POSTURE

Maintaining proper posture will greatly reduce chances of injury and maximize exercise benefit. When standing always keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Do not lock your knees. Locking your knees can put unnecessary strain on them. Keep your back flat and straight, making sure not to twist or arch it in order to complete a repetition.

PROPER TECHNIQUE

To get the most out of strength training and to reduce the chance of injury, use proper weight training techniques. These include working your muscles through their full range of motion (but not locking any joints), lifting at a speed at which you can control the weight and stop easily if necessary.

RANGE OF MOTION

Moving through a complete range of motion (ROM) allows the muscles to stretch before contraction and increases the number of muscle fibers being recruited. This produces maximum contraction and force. By working the full ROM, flexibility will be maintained and possibly increased.

REPETITION

A repetition is one complete movement of an exercise. It normally consists of two phases: the concentric muscle action, or lifting of the resistance, and the eccentric muscle action, or lowering of the resistance.

REPETITION MAXIMUM (RM)

This is the maximum number of repetitions per set that can be performed at a given resistance with proper lifting technique. Thus, a set at a certain RM implies the set is performed to momentary voluntary fatigue. 1RM is the heaviest resistance that can be used for one compete repetition of an exercise. 10 RM is a lighter resistance that allows completion of 10 (but not 11) repetitions with proper exercise technique.

SPEED OF MOVEMENT

Strength training movements should be slow and controlled. Do not use momentum to complete an exercise movement. Momentum puts unnecessary stress on tendons, ligaments and joints. Using momentum in your exercise movements does not develop increased strength.

STATIC STRETCHING

A stretching technique that involves holding a specific muscle or muscle group at a desired length for a certain period of time. This type of stretching is highly recommended.

STOP TRAINING IF YOU FEEL PAIN

If you feel pain during a specific exercise stop immediately. Any continuation may aggravate an existing injury. Re-evaluate your routine to make sure that you are doing a proper warm up. Decrease the amount of weight you are lifting. Talk to a qualified personal trainer, health professional or your doctor.

STRENGTH

Strength is the maximal amount of force a muscle or muscle group can generate in a specified movement pattern at a specified velocity of movement.

WARM UP

This cannot be stressed enough. Many workout-related injuries can be avoided by a proper warm up routine. Try to do a total body warm up before you start training. A good example of a total body warm up is using a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical, rowing or skiing machine. It is especially important to warm up specific muscle groups you are going to be using. Your muscles need a 5 to 15 minute warm up as well as a brief cool down. This can be as simple as performing a warm up set of high repetitions and light weight (25% to 50% of your training weight) for each exercise.

WORKOUT

The routine, specific exercises, weights, sets, and reps for one or more body parts.