Suspension trainers such as the TRX have gained popularity in recent years as versatile and effective gym equipment. These simple yet innovative tools offer a wide range of exercises that target various muscle groups, providing a full-body workout with minimal equipment.
During the lockdown, they were a god send for many. They allowed people without the space or budget to allow them to build a home gym a way to exercise effectively at home.
In this article, we will explore the reasons why suspension trainers are excellent items of gym equipment, supported by scientific research. These are some of the many reasons we at AdMac Fitness use them in our personal training and small group training classes.
Why suspension trainers are so effective…
Versatility and Full-Body Engagement
Suspension trainers, such as TRX, enable users to perform a multitude of exercises that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
This versatility is crucial for individuals looking to maximise their workout efficiency. A research paper called MUSCLE ACTIVATION PATTERNS DURING SUSPENSION TRAINING EXERCISES published in 2017 showed that some exercises using suspension trainers result in greater muscle activation compared to traditional exercises, showcasing their ability to engage multiple muscles at once.
Core Stability and Functional Strength
One of the key benefits of suspension training is its emphasis on core stability. By creating an inherently unstable environment, suspension trainers force a greater degree of core muscle activation, relative to their ‘stable’ counterparts.
This isn’t just anecdotal opinion either - a paper from 2020 titled ‘Muscle activation in suspension training: a systematic review’ concluded that…
‘For the push-up, inverted row, prone bridge and hamstring curl in suspension, the activation of upper-body and core muscles ranged between moderate (21-40% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) and very high (>60% MVIC). Muscle activation in these same muscle groups was greater with suspension exercises relative to comparable traditional exercises, except for the inverted row.’
Adaptability for All Fitness Levels
This is more of a coaching point, but it’s relevant to all…
Suspension trainers are adaptable for users of all fitness levels. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced athlete, the adjustable nature of suspension training makes it easy to modify exercises based on individual strength and skill levels.
This means it’s a useful item that will last your entire fitness journey. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there’ll be plenty of value in suspension trainers for you and your workouts.
They Offer Instability Workouts
There’s a benefit that suspension trainers have over any other form of resistance work - they offer an unstable element to training. This doesn't just have strength benefits, it also has balance, skill development, coordination and confidence benefits.
Research around these benefits has been shown to offer improvements to the health, fitness and training programs of young and old alike. A study from 2013 titled ‘Instability Resistance Training Across the Exercise Continuum’ concluded that…
Instability conditions can impair force, power, and movement velocity while maintaining similar or providing greater core and limb muscle activation. Thus, Instability Resistance Training is highly recommended for youth, elderly, and recreationally active individuals and can be judiciously implemented into the training programs of highly trained athletes (eg, warm-ups and lower load phases of the periodised program).
They’re the Ultimate in Convenience…
This is a practical point. A suspension trainer is cheap, very light weight, is easy to store and offers a lot of training versatility.
You can throw one in a suitcase to give you a gym as you travel. You can store it in a drawer, and make your home a place where you can do some exercise. You can take it on a run with you, throw it over some goal posts or a tree in a park and add a resistance element to your training. They provide you with a huge array of workout options, and can cost as little as £20 if you pick up a cheap one.
There’s very few items of fitness equipment that offer that level of versatility at the price point.
Suspension Trainers - Final Thoughts
Suspension trainers have proven to be excellent items of gym equipment, offering versatility, full-body engagement, core stability, adaptability for all fitness levels, joint-friendly workouts, and increased range of motion.
Scientific research consistently supports the benefits of incorporating suspension training into fitness routines. That’s why at AdMac Fitness we believe in them as an excellent and very useful item of equipment for us in our work. Given we’re in the results business, if they didn’t work, we wouldn’t use them!
Want to improve your health and fitness? Let the AdMac Fitness Personal Trainers help…
AdMac Fitness has been helping the people of East London transform their health and fitness for nearly a decade.
We help people using tried and tested fitness approaches. Our expert team of personal trainers, based in both Bow and South Woodford can help you get a grip of your health forever. With our guidance and experience, you can relax knowing that your fitness journey is going to be guided by some of the best personal trainers in East London.
For more information on who we are, what we do and how we can help you achieve your health and fitness goals, contact us on… 07921465108 or email us at admacfitness@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our locations are…
AdMac Fitness Bow: Arch 457 Robeson St, London E3 4JA.
AdMac Fitness South Woodford: Unit 4 Marlborough Business Centre, 96 George Lane, South Woodford, London, E18 1AD.