The training program of any athlete should include exercise for increasing grip strength. Almost all sports involve hands. However, some particularly depend on the force of the grip. There are many instruments available to help exercise the muscles of the hand (hand grippers, stretch bands) and athletes should use them to train all aspects of the hand in order to obtain equilibrated, efficient strength.

The hand is a complex instrument of the human body. We can employ our hands in many ways in order to increase their strength. Based on the way we choose to use the hand, there are different types of grip strength: the crush grip, the pinch grip and the support grip. All athletes need is to complete their training with the exercises on the muscles of the hands.

Nevertheless, there are sports in which ample wrist, hand, and tendon strength are required. Power lifting and weightlifting are two illustrative examples for such sports. An athlete dedicated to such sports needs to focus on training his or her grip strength. It is an essential step, particularly if you aim at actually making your best in competitions.

Stretch bands are just one part of the instruments used to exercise grip strength. They come as an alternative to weights for those who practice weight or power lifting. Stretch bands have a valuable utility in a wide range of other sports and practices such as aerobics, stretching, flexibility exercises, general conditioning and even rehabilitation. In order to match these diverse types of activities, stretch bands are available in different sizes and with different resistance.

The smallest stretch bands give a positive resistance of around 5 to 50 pounds and people can use them for general conditioning, rehabilitation, stretching, jumping, speed training or aerobics. Lifters can also use such types of elastic bands either for workout, to add resistance to the biceps and triceps muscles, or for safe increase of the lifted weight before adding another weight to the bar.

The medium sized bands give an increased resistance of 25 to 120 pounds. This resistance makes their use more limited. Powerful athletes can exercise their posterior trunk, the lower body and lower limb musculature. Any piece of professional equipment should include such bands, along with more powerful bands. Of course, this renders them a bit more expensive.

Large and very large elastic bands are preferable for obtaining maximum resistance. The positive resistance given is up to 200 pounds. Such bands should form the exclusive concern of training for athletes, advanced in their training practices, who seek maximum resistance in various types of exercises such as squats, deadlifts, leg presses and shrugs. Similar to the ones above, these types of bands offer both efficacy (great positive resistance) and mobility, because those who choose to use them can easily carry them in a medium size, light bag.

Used by powerful weightlifters or in aerobics, stretch bands form a valuable tool for the increase of resistance. Moreover, when using them, you can gradually increase the difficulty of the exercises. Another advantage with which they provide the athlete is the freedom to complete a wide range of exercises. An athlete can undertake such training exercises by adding them to their routine in or outside of the gym. The acknowledgement of all of their advantages is wide among athletes. For instance, famous athletes, such as Louie Simmons, choose them as part of their training equipment.