What are strength exercises?
A strength exercise is any activity that makes your muscles work harder than usual. If repeated regularly, the exercises will increase your muscle strength, size, power and endurance.
You should aim to do 2 sessions or more of muscle-strengthening exercises each week.
- Lifting weights, resistance band exercises, and heavy gardening are excellent for building strength.
- Climbing stairs, hill walking, cycling, and dancing are effective for improving fitness and stamina.
- Sports such as tennis, badminton, football, and cricket offer enjoyable ways to stay active.
- Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, and squats can be adapted to suit all abilities.
- Yoga is beneficial for flexibility and overall well-being.
Top tips
Starting to be more active can be daunting, especially if you haven't done much exercise before or you're out of practice.
- Include exercises in your daily routine
- Set goals
- Preparation is key
- Exercise with others
- Pace yourself and don't ignore pain
- Remember to start out gently and slowly increase the level of difficulty. If you feel any discomfort, stop and take a break.
If you are unsteady on your feet, you can do some exercises sitting in a tall upright position in a straight-backed dining chair. The chair should be placed against something sturdy to prevent it from moving.
If you have an existing health issue which may affect your ability to exercise, please speak to your GP or a health professional before starting any of the exercises below.