Resistance Tubes Are A Popular Exercise Option

When I first saw resistance tubing used at a fitness expo, I was convinced it was just another way for the exercise industry to sell some more exercise props and make millions. I thought it was just another gimmick to make money.
However, after I attended a class on the use of resistance tubing and actually participated in a class, I quickly decided they were awesome.
The first time I asked my husband, Mike, to try his workout using an exercise tube, he laughed and said “Are you kidding? That cannot be a good workout.”
One workout session made a believer out of Mike, and the next day he was sore in places he did not know he had.
Now when he travels, he packs his exercise tube without fail.
You may not be familiar with exercise tubing or exercise bands so I am going to give you some information that will expand your horizons, and hopefully motivate you to try something different with your exercise routine.
Elastic resistance exercise was developed in the 1950s.
It was developed primarily for physical therapists who gave clients surgical rubber tubing to add resistance to rehabilitative exercise programs.
Perhaps if you have had orthopedic surgery, you were given rubber tubing and a list of exercises to perform with the tube.
Today, exercise bands are used by many individuals in their everyday workouts and are available in most gyms.
They have become very popular because they are lightweight, portable and readily available. They also provide a great resistance training workout for individuals of all fitness levels.
They come in different strengths, based on the thickness of the elastic.
The bands come in light, medium, heavy and extra heavy resistance and are color-coded accordingly.
Two thin bands can be used in the place of one thick band to provide adequate resistance.
Exercise bands can be used to strengthen and stabilize the shoulder joint as well as provide a great workout to tighten and tone the entire body.
Many people use the bands in conjunction with free weights and machines, but the band by itself will provide a great workout as I mentioned before. 
Below is an example of a great exercise that can be done with the tube to provide stability to the shoulder joint. Because the shoulder joint is one of the most moveable joints in the body, it incurs a lot of injures (especially the rotator cuff) so it is very important to strengthen the muscles that give the joint stability. 

Shoulder External Rotation
Tube Position: Tube anchored at approximately shoulder height.
Preparation: Secure tube. Turn sideways to the door with left side facing the door. With feet shoulder width apart, grab tube in right hand and step away from the door to start with slight tension in the tube. Place a towel under your elbow and hold it tight. Palm should face your stomach to start.
Execution: Keep your elbow still and pull your right palm away from your stomach, rotating your arm within the shoulder.

LINDA STOLLINGS is a personal fitness trainer in Bristol, Tenn. E-mail her at or visit http://www.fitprescriptions.com.