Your strengthening needs an iron supplement
This is not medical advice.
I’m not talking about pills right now, though that is addressed near the end of this article. I’m talking about what devices to use when you are trying to get stronger. Anything is better than nothing, but there is some science to support iron over rubber bands.
Pumping iron at any age
Iron is mentioned in body building for several reasons. One, is that it used to be a cheap material to lift, and was sturdy. The more important factor is that it has mass and inertia. It will require more muscle fiber recruitment in order to start moving it.
Our bodies are hard wired to be very efficient at survival. This also looks like laziness most of the day, like a lion.
Our muscles will only use the minimum number of muscle fibers to get the job done, and not require too much effort. Iron forces a greater effort and increased number of muscles fibers, or recruitment.
Getting stronger or adding muscle mass really starts with better neurological firing of muscle fibers, and an increase in the number of fibers that need to fire. This is what quickly starts to make us stronger.
Rubber bands
I am not against rubber bands, and there are many applications for them, especially in rehab.
But a rubber band requires very few muscle fibers, in comparison, especially to start the movement. The band doesn’t present much resistance until we have pulled about half of it’s length.
Iron by contract, requires even more fibers to start, and then slightly less as momentum assists.
Hormonal response to iron
This increased stress or stimulus provides a hormonal response. Free feel good drugs throughout the body that help you gain muscle, strength, bone density, and mood elevators.
Body weight exercises
When we push against gravity with our body weight, that is also a hormonal response. We see this evidence most clearly with astronauts, who have to be concerned with muscle and bone loss.
Body weight exercises can be done at any level. If people can’t get up from a chair, we do quarter squats at the counter. If push ups are too hard, we start from the knees, or do push ups from the kitchen counter.
We can always start somewhere.
Iron can great for strengthening, but not the only consideration;
Dietary supplements
You could also say the opposite; you need some strengthening when taking iron. Supplements are prescribed for conditions all the time, in the absence of a stimulus. Gravity, and our resistance to it, is the typical stimulus for bone and muscle growth.
Calcium will work better if we provide the body a stimulus first, namely some kind of resistance.
Water as resistance
Pool has water resistance for our muscles, but lacks gravity. This is great for some rehab situations, however can also be too easy at times. Just when we are trying to help people get stronger, sometimes the pool is not helping as we float around.
