What is TRX Suspension Training? There are a lot of exercise fads out there. Everybody is always jumping on the newest exercise equipment that promises to make them leaner and stronger. So what do we think at SOL? We give this new training system two thumbs up!
The TRX system uses straps to vary body weight resistance. It shows tremendous benefit for rehabilitation and performance. TRX is a versatile piece of equipment that can be utilized anywhere you may be. Over 300 different exercises can be performed to improve total body strength, flexibility and overall performance. Full body workouts can be achieved in less than 30 minutes as transition from one exercise to the next occurs easily. TRX is a lightweight, durable piece of equipment that can be catered to your own personal training needs.
Elite athletes, coaches, personal trainers, and thousands of individuals of all fitness levels, and ages, are raving about the training results they are achieving from TRX workouts. The TRX suspension trainer is easy to attach anywhere and its single point attachment allows one to train with a wide range of resistance to address a combination of strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, power, and core stability. You’ll hear “all core all the time.” During TRX training, the core is engaged to stabilize and balance regardless of whether you’re emphasizing upper or lower body strengthening.
The standard weight machines limit your ability to move in a variety of planes. The TRX allows multiple planes of motion which carries over into more functional training. Weight training can help increase the size of muscle groups but does not place a demand on neuromuscular coordination required to build optimal strength and performance the way TRX suspension training does. Exercise intensity can be adjusted by increasing the body angle, narrowing the base of support, or by changing your start position relative to the anchor point.
You may be wondering how suspension training exercises can benefit you. Training in a stable environment often hides one’s movement asymmetries or masks functional weaknesses. “The human body naturally seeks the path of least resistance.” That being said, wear and tear can accumulate and lead to injury if it is not addressed. TRX Suspension Training will reveal these areas of weakness in the kinetic chain and allow your coach, physical therapist, trainer, or yourself to acknowledge these and train appropriately to remove these imperfections. We are moving beings. The ability to train in different planes of motion, in a more functional style, will have positive carry over into your activities of daily living (ADL’s) and recreational needs.
So why not challenge yourself to an entirely different type of training? You can design your TRX workouts geared towards your fitness goals. Intertwining different variables such as the exercise selection, plane of motion, speed of movement, level of resistance, stability, and/or intensity will not only keep you motivated and enjoying your workouts, but it will also help you achieve your long term fitness goals and/or needs. Let’s train more FUNCTIONAL!
Click here to check out some innovative TRX moves!
Written By: Dr. Lala Moore, DPT
