What Are The Benefits Of Exercise On The Muscles?

Exercise promotes strong, flexible and larger muscles in your body. Physical activity can also promote heart and bone health as well as strengthen weakened muscles after long periods of disuse. Research published in the November 2004 issue of the "Journal of Applied Physiology" revealed that strength training significantly increased muscle strength and mass in patients following hip-replacement surgery. Consult your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen to benefit your muscles.

Health Benefits

Aerobic exercises, such as biking, running, swimming, jogging and basketball, help strengthen your heart muscles to enhance the delivery of oxygen-rich red blood cells to all parts of your body. Strong muscles increase your exercise endurance, or the ability of your muscles to keep performing at an optimal level during extended periods of exercise. Sturdy muscles also help support your joints to help prevent injuries. Moreover, when you perform weight-bearing exercises, such as running, jogging and weightlifting, your muscles pull on your bones to make them stronger -- potentially lowering your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Exercising produces more muscles to help you burn calories and maintain a healthy weight, because muscles burn more calories than fat while you rest.

Specific Exercise Benefits

Physical exercises that specifically strengthen the muscles in your upper arms, such as the biceps on the front of your arms and the triceps on the back, consist of rowing, cross-country skiing, pullups and situps. In addition, running, biking, rowing, skating, squats and leg raises can increase muscle strength in the large quadriceps muscles on the front of your thighs. Perform yoga, Pilates and crunches to promote stronger and firmer abdominal muscles. Furthermore, physical activities that promote muscle flexibility and range of motion, such as dancing, karate, tai chi, ballet and gymnastics help reduce muscle strains and may also enhance your sports performance.

Arm-Muscle Benefits

Gymnastics not only promotes muscle flexibility but may also increase muscle strength and production in your arms. Research published in the June 2011 issue of the journal "Osteoporosis International" observed the effects of gymnastics exercises on bone mass, along with muscle size, strength and endurance in girls aged six to 11. Researchers evaluated muscle function in 30 highly trained gymnasts, 29 low-training gymnasts and 29 non-gymnasts. Both highly-trained gymnasts, who trained from six to 16 hours per week, and less-trained gymnasts, who trained from one to five hours per week, exhibited greater arm lean mass -- more muscle than fat tissue -- muscle power and muscle endurance as well as stronger bones than non-gymnasts.

Shoulder and Neck Muscle Benefits

Strength training may strengthen, increase mobility and reduce pain in the muscles in your shoulders and neck. A study published in the December 2008 issue of the "Journal of Applied Physiology" observed the effects of strength training on 42 women subjects diagnosed with trapezius myalgia, which causes chronic pain and tenderness in the upper trapezius muscle that helps move your shoulders and neck. Over a 10-week period, the women either participated in a strength-training program that focused on their neck and shoulder muscles, general-fitness training, such as cycling, or did not participate in physical activities. Only women in the strength-training group experienced significant benefits, including 42 to 49 percent less pain as well as increased mobility and muscle strength in their shoulders.

Leg Muscle Benefits

Resistance training may not only strengthen and build muscles in the legs of healthy children and adults but may benefit those with weakened muscles, as well. Research published in the September 2001 issue of the "Journal of Applied Physiology" observed the effects of a resistance-exercise program on muscle loss and weakness in 35 severely burned children. Over a 12-week period, researchers observed leg muscle strength and lean body mass in 35 children suffering from burns on more than 40 percent of their bodies. Children aged seven to 17 engaged in a rehabilitation program, supplemented with strength training, or participated in home-based rehabilitation without additional exercises. Children who completed resistance training exhibited significant improvement in muscle strength, muscle power and muscle mass when compared to those receiving standard occupational and physical therapy only.