Why Is Training Chest Important?
When we think of large muscle groups, legs and glutes always come first. But your chest muscles aka the Pectoral region are some of the largest and most commonly used in the upper body.
Despite playing an important role in day to day tasks, the chest doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. For women especially, the chest can be an arduous muscle group to train since the female body relies more on the shoulders and back biologically vs men.
However, it’s so important for both sexes to train the chest, as it builds strength, improves posture and prevents injury.
Chest pain is normally associated with very bad news, when in fact musculoskeletal issues make the majority of chest pain complaints. The muscles in this group can strain easily, but by strengthening these muscles you lower the risk of strain when doing menial tasks like picking up your child or grabbing something off the backseat of your car.
5 Reasons You Need To Train Chest
Strength
One of the main reasons to train chest is that you’ll build strength in your muscles. This will not only leave you feeling fitter and stronger, it will also build shape in the upper body and create a strong silhouette.
At home chest workouts for strength
At home chest workouts can range from press ups in the morning to full on chest pump workouts you can follow along.
Injury prevention
Most people will have a natural tendency to use one arm more than the other. Whether it’s due to sport or day to day life, over time this can build up an imbalance in the body, leaving you with a weaker side.
Imbalances in the body often lead to injury, and in an ideal world every muscle would be equal on both sides of the body. By training chest, you’re able to workout the muscles equally, creating more symmetry in the body.
At home chest workouts for injury prevention
Chest workouts for injury prevention can include push sessions with weights that use equal weight to balance the muscles.
Posture
Along with the back, the chest muscles play a large role in posture. Having strong chest muscles can help you hold your body upright without slouching. When combined with a good back routine, a chest workout can aid posture.
At home chest workouts for posture
Workouts like yoga and pilates that have a focus on chest can be ideal for posture. By working both the front and back body at the same time, you’re able to stabalise the muscles and work on getting your shoulders back and your chest balanced.
Better breathing
In addition to improving posture, chest workouts can lengthen the chest muscles which aids deeper breathing. By allowing your ribcage to broaden, you’re able to take deeper breaths which can help with relaxation and oxygen flow.
At home chest workouts for better breathing
You can improve breathing just by stretching the chest muscles after workouts and ensuring that any tightness in the chest is released. Practising meditation is a great way to focus on the breath and allow the chest muscles to expand as you breathe.
Burn calories
Burning calories isn’t the be all and end all of workouts, but if you’re trying to lose weight it can be helpful to burn more calories in your workouts. The chest features large muscles that burn calories when worked.
At home chest workouts that burn calories
Fun, active workouts like HIIT with a focus on the upper body can burn maximum calories whilst still training the chest.
Ready to supercharge your fitness routine?
Join the 300,000+ users who are already realising the benefits of Steppen. With social fitness, you’ll be able to reach your goals faster & have more fun along the way.
Download the app now to get started.
