The use of resistance to induce muscular contraction builds strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. When properly performed, strength training can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being, including increased bone, muscle, tendon and ligament strength and toughness, improved joint function, reduce potential for injury, increase bone density, increase metabolism, improve cardiac function, and elevate HDL “good” cholesterol.

The effectiveness of strength training to ease the pain of osteoarthritis is just as potent, if not more potent, as medications. Similar effects of strength training have been seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.