Discover Strength Podcast Throwback: "The Benefits of Resistance Training Beyond Hypertrophy & Big Weights" with Dr. James McKendry
Nov 2, 2023
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Dr. James McKendry, a Ph.D. fellow at McMaster University, talks about a paper he was part of that explores the benefits of resistance training beyond hypertrophy and strength. The paper breaks down the other major things to keep in mind when starting and maintaining a resistance training program. Topics include mobility and function, cognition, cancer recovery, metabolic health, and overall mortality improvements.
Resistance training is crucial for maintaining mobility and reducing the risk of falls in aging populations.
Resistance training has shown promising effects in improving cognitive function, particularly in aging populations.
Resistance training plays a crucial role in improving metabolic health and reducing the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Deep dives
Resistance Training's Impact on Mobility and Falls
Resistance training is crucial for maintaining mobility and reducing the risk of falls in aging populations. As people age, they tend to experience declines in muscle mass and strength, which can lead to difficulties in everyday tasks and an increased risk of falling. Resistance training helps to counteract these issues by building muscle mass and enhancing strength, thus improving mobility and reducing falls risk. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of resistance training in promoting functional independence and preventing physical decline in older individuals. This highlights the importance of incorporating resistance training into regular exercise programs to maintain mobility and prevent falls.
Cognitive Function and Resistance Training
Resistance training has shown promising effects in improving cognitive function, particularly in aging populations. Research suggests that resistance training can mitigate cognitive decline and improve neuroplasticity. One proposed mechanism for these effects is the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes the growth and maintenance of neurons in the brain. While more research is needed to fully understand the extent of the cognitive benefits of resistance training, current evidence supports the inclusion of resistance exercise as a means to enhance cognitive function and mitigate age-related cognitive decline.
Reduced Risk of Cancer and Resistance Training
While resistance training cannot prevent cancer, it has been shown to have positive effects on cancer-related outcomes. Resistance training can help mitigate declines in muscle mass caused by cancer therapies and improve overall muscle function, increasing survival rates and reducing morbidity. Additionally, resistance training has been found to reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy by providing more places for chemical compounds to distribute within the body, alleviating the burden on other organs. Prehabilitation, a preparatory phase of resistance training before surgical interventions, is also being explored as a way to limit muscle loss and enhance recovery in cancer patients.
Improving Metabolic Health through Resistance Training
Resistance training plays a crucial role in improving metabolic health, including reducing the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. By increasing muscle mass, resistance training enhances the body's ability to metabolize and utilize nutrients, leading to improved insulin sensitivity and a more efficient metabolic rate. Resistance training can also help regulate blood sugar levels and improve metabolic flexibility. Even minimal amounts of resistance training, about 30 to 60 minutes per week, have been shown to confer significant benefits for metabolic health. Incorporating resistance training into exercise routines is essential for improving overall metabolic well-being.
Resistance Training and Mortality
Resistance training has been linked to reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality rates. Even when controlling for cardiovascular fitness, improvements in muscle strength through resistance training positively impact survival rates. Resistance training provides resilience and enhances the body's ability to cope with various health challenges, ultimately increasing longevity. Moreover, resistance training offers a wide range of health benefits that can significantly enhance overall well-being and quality of life.
On this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are joined by Dr. James McKendry from McMaster University in Canada. Dr. McKendry is a researcher and Ph.D. fellow at McMaster University and part of former guest Dr. Stuart Phillip's world-renowned lab on protein metabolism. Dr. McKendry joined me this week to discuss a recent paper he was a part of from that lab looking at the benefits of resistance training beyond hypertrophy and strength. The paper is a review that investigates the current literature to give recommendations for resistance training for things other than strength and hypertrophy benefits. We constantly talk about the "other" benefits of resistance training and this paper does a fantastic job of breaking down, in detail many of those other benefits and why they might be important to people.
While strength, muscle growth, and the physiological changes that accompany them are important. There is an abundance of physiological and psychological benefits to resistance training beyond hypertrophy that have almost nothing to do with the physical weights being moved.
The biggest areas of interest in the paper breakdown, in detail, with fantastic graphical displays some of the other major things to keep in mind when it comes to starting and maintaining a resistance training program. Things like mobility and function, cognition, cancer (recovery and possibly mitigation), metabolic health, and overall mortality improvements (meaning helping you live a longer and fuller life).
We recommend a lot of papers on this podcast and in general to our listeners. This is one paper I would suggest everyone reads in its entirety. It is extremely easy to understand and digest and is filled with wonderful visual representations on the importance and impact of resistance training. This is a great paper to share with friends or family who are also on the fence about strength training. Maybe they don't think they "need big muscles" or don't want to get "bulky". Aside from being highly unlikely to attain for the average person this paper examines some of the reasons why EVERYONE should participate in resistance training in at least some capacity. It also gives some recommendations on how to do so, recommendations very similar to what our listeners will be familiar with.
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