This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
Have you ever found yourself in a workout class, bobbing up and down in a tiny, repetitive motion, wondering if this is actually doing anything for your body?
Good news: pulsing is definitely doing something for your body, and it comes with some pretty legit benefits.
When you shorten your range of motion, your muscles are contracted the entire time, versus a full-range exercise, where there is a moment of release, says Tiffani Robbins, a personal trainer with Obé Fitness and Fithouse in NYC.
This means that pulsing isolates the active muscles and fatigues them more quickly, which helps build their endurance. Plus, you'll get stronger.
Staying in a pulse also brings more blood to the muscles, which can increase growth, adds Robbins.
However, don't nix your full-range moves altogether, as those activate the entire muscle group. A balanced workout should include a mix of both pulsing moves and full-range versions.
For a balanced workout, Robbins suggests pulsing at the end of a move in your routine: complete 10 reps of a squat or lunge, then pulse for 10 counts. Repeat three times.
This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue of Women's Health.
