Research and write about the importance of strength training for persons with a disability. Provide at least 10 documented reasons why you should include some form of strength training in your regular exercise schedule. Discuss some of the myths associated with strength training for persons with a challenge.

Strength Training

Strength training and disability

Strength training I beneficial for both men and women at almost all parts of the age cycle. Researchers have associated strength with many physical and psychological benefits for people with disabilities caused by biological or ageing factors. There have been a variety of researches carried out that suggest that strength training produces muscle strength in the case of disability caused by chronic stroke, knee osteoarthritis, ageing, and mild pulmonary function. Teixeira-Salmela, Olney, Nadeau and Brouwer, (1999) conducted a research on thirteen community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors by allowing them to go through a muscle strengthening training program. Result suggested that there were a considerable improvement in the daily life of the participants. All the subjects were reported to have improved their stair climbing skills. Another research suggested that strength training coupled with exercise therapy has improved the condition of elderly people with osteoarthritis of the knee (Jansen, M. J., Viechtbauer, Lenssen, Hendriks and Bie, 2011). The intervention also improved he overall physical function significantly.

People suffering from multiple sclerosis have difficulties in their respiratory function. Expiratory strength training has been suggested to such people and the result have suggested that there has been mild to significant improvement in the pulmonary function and maximal voluntary cough.

Myths concerning strength training

There are some myths that are wrongly associated with strength training. Most of them are about strength training provision for elderly people. It has been argues that elderly people should not be exposed to strength training because it might prove to be too tough for them and might cause further physical problems. But the research suggests otherwise. A research conducted by Ory, Hoffman, Hawkins, Sanner, and Mockenhaupt, (2003) suggested that elderly people should be allowed to try new things. The research engaged elderly in successful strength training in octogenarian and nonagenarian nursing homes.

Strength Training in daily life

There are many documented reasons to suggest that strength training should be included in the regular exercise. Following are a few of them:

1. Strength training helps in burning more calories in addition to the calories burnt by regular exercise. Especially in women, adding a weight training to their regular activities can help in maintaining their weight.
2. Strength training can help in an improved bone health. Bone strength is lost with increasing age in member of all sexes. Strength training programs can help in reducing this effect.
3. Strength training can also help in protecting the muscle mass. Muscle mass is also reported to be degraded with growing age.
4. Strength training is a useful tool to remain strong and fit. Push-ups and weight lifting are good to be a part of the regular exercise.
5. With strength training, the overall body mechanism improve. It could be better balance and body flexibility or coordinated body motion.
6. Strength training can help in improving health condition hence decreasing a need for medication that would be necessary if there is a bone arthritis.
7. Strength training not only has physical but psychological benefits. When there is a healthy body, the mood is certainly going to be positively affected.
8. Strength Training result in increasing body energy. This results in the efficient carrying out of the daily tasks and routines as well other activities.
9. Strength training is also suggested to those who are involved in sporting activities. Sport persons from different sports have different guidelines to conduct these trainings according to the muscular and mental strength they require to do their sporting activities efficiently.
10. Strength training could be our gateway to a healthier, happier, longer and improved life.

References

Chiara, T., Martin, A. D., Davenport, P. W., & Bolser, D. C. (2006). Expiratory muscle strength t raining in persons with multiple sclerosis having mild to moderate disability: effect on           maximal expiratory pressure, pulmonary function, and maximal voluntary cough.           Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 87(4), 468-473.

Jansen, M. J., Viechtbauer, W., Lenssen, A. F., Hendriks, E. J., & de Bie, R. A. (2011). Strength training alone, exercise therapy alone, and exercise therapy with passive manual      mobilisation each reduce pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis: a            systematic review. Journal of physiotherapy, 57(1), 11-20.

Ory, M., Hoffman, M. K., Hawkins, M., Sanner, B., & Mockenhaupt, R. (2003). Challenging       aging stereotypes: strategies for creating a more active society. American journal of         preventive medicine, 25(3), 164-171.

Teixeira-Salmela, L. F., Olney,           S. J., Nadeau, S., & Brouwer, B. (1999). Muscle       strengthening and physical conditioning to reduce impairment and disability in chronic           stroke survivors.          Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 80(10), 1211-   1218.