Why Weightlifting is Good for You

Big thanks to Dr. Gabriel Kresge, Director of West Chester Kinetic Physical Therapy, for joining us to talk about weightlifting, powerlifting, hormones, bones, metabolism and health.

Powerlifting is Preventive Medicine

Powerlifting is one of my new favorite preventive medicines to recommend for people, because it does all of these things for you (and more)!

Weightlifting's Health Benefits

1. Weightlifting increases bone density

2. Weightlifting helps reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia

3. Weightlifting increases muscle mass

4. Weightlifting increases functional strength and balance

5. Weightlifting boosts metabolic rate and reduces body fat

6. Powerlifting increases testosterone and growth hormone

7. Weightlifting improves insulin sensitivity and helps reverse type 2 diabetes

8. Weightlifting helps reverse hypertension

9. Weightlifting improves libido

10. Weightlifting decreases fatigue and improves energy

11. Weightlifting can decreases chronic pain

12. Weightlifting decreases total and LDL cholesterol

Just try to name a pill that does all this!

You can’t. Because there isn’t one.

And if there was, it would certainly by a million dollars a dose.

Exercise is the intervention that promises to give you all of these benefits - without side effects - if done correctly.

It only has side benefits :)

The problems with exercise come in when you’re doing it wrong.

There are a number of ways to get exercise wrong.

Common Weightlifting Mistakes

• You’re doing the wrong exercises for your body.

• You haven’t fully healed injuries before lifting heavy weights.

• You’re lifting with the wrong form.

• You’re not on the right lifting schedule or program.

• You have no idea what you’re doing in the gym and you’re just wandering around trying exercises you’ve seen on social media.

• You haven’t had a movement screen from a physical therapist to determine what movements are safe and effective for you.

• You’re working too hard or not hard enough.

• No one has taught you how to exercise to reverse your specific health condition that you’re concerned about (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, etc.).