Strengthen your muscles with elastic resistance bands

The Bottom Line

  • Muscle strength decreases as we age, so it’s important to exercise regularly to slow the decline and stay active, strong and flexible.
  • Elastic resistance bands are inexpensive, portable and can be used for a wide variety of strength training exercises.
  • Studies show that they help improve muscle strength in older adults.

As we age it’s common to lose muscle strength. It’s believed the decline can begin as early as our 40s and becomes more pronounced by the time we reach our mid 60s (1). But just because it’s normal that doesn’t mean we have to take it lying down – in fact, the best advice is to do exactly the opposite! Walking, sports, recreational activities: there are many ways to get exercise but your routine should also include some strength or resistance training exercise to help build and maintain muscle (2). That’s particularly important for seniors as it improves strength, mobility and balance, all of which minimize the risk of falls (3).


Options for strength training include bodybuilding machines as well as free weights – gyms and fitness centres are full of them. But some older adults may not be able to, or even want to, go to a gym. On the other hand home exercise equipment can be expensive, bulky and cumbersome. A potential solution is resistance training using elastic materials in the shape of bands or tubes. They’re easily available, inexpensive and take up hardly any space. But can these simple elastic bands really help increase muscle strength?


To answer that question, a systematic review analyzed the results of 10 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 834 people between the ages of 60 and 79 (4). Their strength was measured both before and after participating in resistance training programs. The programs ranged from six to 24 weeks with participants training from one to five times a week.


The studies included participants with a range of health conditions: some were considered healthy; some had functional disabilities; others had multiple or chronic conditions. The elastic resistance training included a variety of exercises, targeting muscles in both the upper and lower body.


What the research tells us

Evidence from the systematic review supports using elastic resistance training as an effective way of increasing muscle strength among older adults.


The effects of training with elastic bands or tubes were most pronounced in healthy older adults as well as those with some physical limitations. Improvements were less obvious in people with more serious conditions.


One of the main advantages of elastic bands or tubes is that they can be used to perform a wide variety of exercises and are appropriate for people of all fitness levels: it is easy to alter the amount of resistance as needed. If you’re looking for a cost effective addition to your exercise routine, why not give elastic resistance training a try? 

Looking for other ways to stay active, or want to know more about the benefits of exercise?  Click here to read more blog posts on the topic.


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References

  1. Chodzko-Zajko W, Proctor D, Fiatarone Singh, M et al. American college of sports medicine position stand: Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2009; 41:1510-1530.
  2. Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology  (CSEP). Canadian physical activity guidelines for older adults [Internet]  Ottawa, Canada.  Jan, 2011. [cited July 2015] Available from: http://www.csep.ca/CMFiles/Guidelines/CSEP_PAGuidelines_older-adults_en.pdf
  3. Olsson Moller U, Midloff P, Kristensson J et al. Prevalence and predictors of falls and dizziness in people younger and older than 80 years of age – A longitudinal cohort study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr.2012; 56(1):160-168.
  4. Martins WR, de Oliveira RJ, Carvalho RS et al. Elastic resistance training to increase muscle strength in elderly: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013; 57(1):8-15.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.