You may have heard this term thrown around the fitness industry in recent years.  The basis behind the “Muscle Confusion” theory is that in order to grow and become stronger, you must constantly change your routine and confuse your muscles.  Some think this theory is a myth, but there actually is some truth behind it.

Our bodies respond to new stimuli and use it to become stronger.  When you are placing demand on your muscles that incorporates balance, different angles, or just a varying training style, your body sees this as something new.  Varying routines can be used as a breakthrough during those plateau times as muscle groups become accustomed to a training program quite quickly.  For instance, for chest exercises, you may perform pushups with one hand on a medicine ball one day and inclined dumbbell press on a physioball later in the week.  While you’re still working the chest region, you’ve changed the angle and added a level of imbalance resulting in stimulation of new muscle growth.

Muscle confusion will also improve your motivation and keep your interest level up.  Varying your routine is an excellent way to constantly challenge your body in several dimensions.  For additional assistance in designing a program that incorporates muscle confusion, get in touch with a local personal trainer in St Louis.