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The Importance of Muscle Confusion
When considering which workout regimen to adopt, it is always critical to first consider both one's physical abilities and limitations. Working with a qualified personal trainer is an important step in identifying the kinds of exercise that will provide the maximum benefit. An individualized approach is always best.
What is Muscle Confusion? Although there have been specific routines created around the concept, it is ultimately a training principal and not a specific exercise routine. The concept can be applied in various different ways, depending on the background of the trainer. The idea is that the maximum benefit of working a specific muscle group can be inhibited with too much repetition.
The muscles may "plateau," causing further work in that area to become redundant. The corresponding frame of mind is boredom, impatience, or intolerable pain. Indeed, this is the key problem that prevents many people from staying motivated. The good news is that it is easily avoided by applying concepts of strategic moderation and movement alteration into your training plan.
 In the past, training was based on the concept of an extreme workout. The result was that many trainers became aware of an exercise ceiling; the limitation of benefit for any given exercise.
It became a point of frustration that many thought just needed to be pushed through, and may have given rise to the expression, "no pain, no gain." Muscle Confusion was created in response to these problems, so that the muscles could not have a chance to adapt to a set movement pattern.
Our Personal trainers use many techniques in order to work towards their client's training goal. Another important concept is reciprocal muscle inhibition. This is the concept that the two sides to a muscle lever, the agonist and the antagonist, cannot both be fully active at the same time. When one side contracts fully, the opposite side must release.
For example, when the quadriceps are contracted, or tightened, the hamstrings are forced to lengthen. This concept is often used to relieve muscle cramps, but can be employed for purposes of Muscle Confusion as well. It feels like a deep opening in the back of the leg, and is a great way to prepare for strengthening exercises.
The Health Benefits of Adding Weight Training to Your Cardio Workouts Cardiovascular exercise stimulates the circulation of vital blood, oxygen and nutrients. When blood moves through the body, muscles glide easier against other muscle groups and there is often a feeling of heat in the limbs. Important chemicals circulate, causing anywhere from a gentle to extreme state of euphoria.
 The fresh supply of oxygen invigorates the mind and strengthens the body. Most importantly, the accumulated metabolic waste products are pushed through the lymph system, which has a detoxifying effect.
Although these are all desirable outcomes, they are best utilized when combined with weight training. When cardiovascular exercise is done alternately with weight training, it prevents the sense of fatigue or unbearable pain. The weight training will be easier on the joints because they will already be lubricated by the cardiovascular warm-up. Muscles warmed by cardio workouts also respond better to weight training.
Our personal trainers can incorporate many different training principals into your routine both by changing the style of exercise and introducing new ones. One week, they may focus a great deal on stretching, lengthening, and yoga postures.
The next week they may change the routine to emphasize a completely different set of movements, such as weight training. This allows them to strategically plan your rest time in conjunction with a variety of load, which is placed on alternately deep and superficial muscle groupings.
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