Can You Build Muscle With Resistance Bands?

Written by Tihomir Stefanov, M.S.(C), PT

| Published on

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If you’re someone who loves to hit the gym and lift weights, you may have heard of using resistance bands as an alternative method for building muscle. 

But can you build muscle with resistance bands alone, or are they just a supplement to a traditional weightlifting routine? 

Resistance bands have gained popularity in recent years due to their portability and versatility, allowing you to get a good workout in even when you’re on the go or don’t have access to a gym. 

But the question remains: can you build muscle with resistance bands? 

In this article, we’ll delve into the science behind resistance bands and examine whether they can truly help you build muscle mass and strength.

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We’ll also answer some commonly asked questions, such as:

  1. Can you get ripped from resistance bands?
  2. Do resistance bands build muscle better than weights?
  3. Can I build muscle with resistance bands only?

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Why Is Resistance Important?

As a professional weightlifting coach, I can confidently say that added resistance is essential for building muscle mass. 

When we lift weights, we are essentially causing microscopic tears in our muscle fibers. 

As our muscles repair and rebuild these fibers, they become stronger and larger in order to better handle the demands we place on them in the next workouts. 

By increasing the resistance placed upon the body, whether it be through heavier weights, more reps, or simply doing the exercise slower, we are challenging our muscles to adapt and grow. 

Without progressively increasing the resistance, our muscles will plateau, and we will stop seeing progress in terms of muscle growth. 

As you’ve probably read in previous articles on our website, this is referred to as “progressive overload,” and it is a key concept in the context of building muscle and strength.

But can you build muscle with resistance bands? Do resistance bands build muscle better than weights?

Let’s have a look.

What Are Resistance Bands (RBs?)

Resistance bands are elastic bands that are used for strength training and rehabilitation exercises. 

They come in a range of resistances, from light to heavy, and are typically made of latex or rubber. 

One of the main benefits of using resistance bands is their versatility – they can be used to target specific muscle groups or to add resistance to bodyweight exercises. 

They are also portable and lightweight, making them a convenient choice for workouts on the go or at home. 

In addition, they can be used by people of all fitness levels and can be incorporated into a variety of workouts, from yoga to high-intensity interval training. 

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It’s important to note, however, that while resistance bands can be a useful tool for strength training, they are not the same.

Conventional Resistance Training

Alright, now, to answer the question, “can you build muscle with resistance bands only?” let’s have a look at conventional resistance training methods.

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After that, we will compare these conventional RT methods with resistance bands and give you insight into what you can do to make use of resistance bands within your training process.

Calisthenics

Calisthenics is a type of physical exercise that involves using your own body weight as resistance to build strength and improve cardiovascular endurance. 

These exercises can be performed with minimal or no equipment and often use movements such as push-ups, squats, and lunges. 

Calisthenics can be a good option for those who prefer to work out at home or outdoors, as they do not require any special equipment. 

They can also be easily modified to suit different fitness levels by adjusting the number of repetitions, the duration of the workout, or the complexity of the exercises. 

Weight Training

Weightlifting is a type of physical exercise that involves the use of weights to increase muscle mass and strength. 

It typically involves lifting weights in a controlled manner, with the goal of gradually increasing the amount of weight lifted over time. 

Weightlifting can be performed with a variety of equipment, such as barbells, dumbbells, and machines, and can be done at a gym or at home with the use of free weights or other weightlifting equipment. 

Weightlifting is often recommended as a way to improve overall health and fitness, as it can increase bone density, reduce the risk of injury, and improve cardiovascular endurance in addition to building muscle mass and strength. 

It’s important to note that weightlifting is, perhaps, the best long-term option when it comes to building muscle and strength.

This is because it allows for the trainee to consistently apply the primary principle of muscle and strength gains that we talked about – progressive overload.

Resistance Bands Compared – Can you build muscle with resistance bands?

At one point or another, we’ve all probably asked ourselves “Can I build muscle with resistance bands only?”

And well, while resistance bands can be a convenient and effective tool for strength training, they may not be the optimal choice for building muscle mass and strength, as compared to calisthenics or weight training. 

Why is that?

Well, resistance bands offer a fixed level of resistance, which may not provide enough of a challenge to stimulate muscle growth as effectively as progressively increasing the weight used in traditional strength training methods. 

On top of that, resistance bands also give an uneven amount of resistance at the different points of the entire range of motion.

On the other hand, calisthenics and weight training allow for the use of progressively heavier weights, which can be more effective at building muscle mass and strength. 

What Can You Do With RBs?

That being said, resistance bands can still be a useful addition to a strength training program and can be well utilized regardless.

Can you build muscle with resistance bands? Yes, but likely at a suboptimal rate.

Nevertheless, resistance bands have applications in anyone’s training regimen, so let’s have a look at what we think are the two best.

Warm-Up

You may have wondered to yourself, “can you build muscle with resistance bands?”

But have you ever considered using resistance bands as part of your warm-up routine? 

While resistance bands may not be the most effective choice for building muscle mass and strength on their own, they can be an excellent tool for activating your muscles and preparing them for a workout. 

By incorporating resistance bands into your warm-up, you can increase blood flow to your muscles and get them ready for the demands of your workout. 

This can be particularly useful for those who have trouble activating certain muscle groups, as the resistance of the bands can help to “wake up” those muscles and get them firing properly. 

So next time you’re preparing for a workout, consider adding some resistance band exercises to your warm-up routine – your muscles (and your performance) will thank you.

Here are 4 of our favorite activation exercises with RBs:

  1. Chest flys
  2. Front raises
  3. Bicep Curls
  4. Shoulder internal/external rotations
  5. Tricep pressdowns

Try these on your next workout!

Rehab Exercises

Resistance bands can be a valuable tool for both rehabilitation and prehabilitation exercises. 

For those recovering from an injury, resistance bands can provide a low-impact way to strengthen and condition affected muscles without putting too much strain on the body. 

They can also be useful for helping to improve mobility and flexibility. 

In the realm of prehabilitation, resistance bands can be used to help prevent injuries by strengthening supporting muscles and improving overall functional movement. 

They are particularly useful for targeting smaller, stabilizing muscles that may be overlooked during traditional weight training exercises, such as the rotator cuff. 

So whether you’re looking to rehabilitate an injury or simply want to improve your overall functional movement and reduce the risk of future injuries, incorporating resistance bands into your exercise routine can be a valuable tool.

Final Thoughts – can you build muscle with resistance bands?

And so, can you build muscle with resistance bands? Can you get ripped from resistance bands?

And more importantly, do resistance bands build muscle better than weights?

Well, the truth is that resistance bands are quite limited, so the answer to most of those questions is… not really!

If you’re looking to build quality muscle mass and strength consistently over time, forget about the bands and focus on bodyweight & weight training instead.

Nevertheless, do consider utilizing resistance bands in your warm-up routine, and do make sure to add prehabilitation resistance band exercises to avoid injuries!

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