Progressive resistance training is simply the idea that gradually adding resistance to a physical workout provides a healthy way to build up muscles through moderated physical exercise. In the world of physical training, resistance is the amount of obstruction that any muscle group or body part encounters in a specific attempted motion. The principle of progressive resistance is part of a scientific look at how we work our bodies and train for recreational, athletic, and holistic health purposes.
One of the most common ways to look at resistance is with free weight or fixed weight exercises. If an individual pushes against the air, moving their arms up above their shoulders, the resistance that they meet is negligible, and most would agree that, for practical purposes, the resistance would be zero. If the person adds a five-pound weight in each hand, those weights provide a specific amount of resistance. If the user starts with five pound weights, changes to ten pound weights, and so on, doing a certain number of repetitions with each, this is called progressive resistance, because the resistance that their body encounters is increasing with the added weight.
Progressive resistance has a long history; some fitness experts trace it back to ancient Greece. Today, the idea of progressive resistance has been introduced in gyms across the world, mainly through fixed weight machines that let the user add on weight in increments. A vast number of trainers who handle fitness programs for clients will prescribe progressive resistance as a way to tone and build muscle for better quality of life and longevity. Individual fitness participants will also "self-select" progressive resistance routines that build muscle where they want to bulk up, in the upper or lower body.
In addition to fixed or free weights, a lot of other fitness gear also provides for progressive resistance. New tools called "resistance bands" come in a set, where different levels of elasticity help users build up resistance in increments. Other tools, like medicine balls, kettlebells, and even foam rollers, also include variable resistance designs. Athletes may use these items to train for specific kinds of resistance challenges in a certain sport. Those who design the best fitness aids for the future of physical activity continue to look at ways to include good resistance levels in the items they produce to help trainers build muscle, burn fat, and promote balance, agility, and overall body capacity, or for optimal performance in a specific sport or exercise.