The Health Benefits of Lower-Body Exercises

Many people work out their lower bodies with squats, lunges, and deadlifts, but dozens of other movements and variations can provide an enormous range of health benefits. When you add lower-body exercises into your workout routine, your health, energy levels, and overall well-being will improve. Here are the various health benefits of lower-body exercises you might not have considered before.

Stronger Muscles

Whether you’re working your quadriceps, hamstrings, or glutes, you’re strengthening some of the most important parts of your body that help you move through your day. As you get stronger, you’ll find that you can take on more activities without getting tired, and you’ll feel more energized overall. Plus, your metabolism will speed up, which means you’ll burn calories more effectively. With all these benefits, you’ll never want to skip leg day again.

Improved Balance

One of the most overlooked benefits of lower-body exercises is improved balance. Working your core and lower body together creates a more stable base for your body to move from. This can help you avoid falls and injuries, which is particularly important as you age. Exercises such as squats, lunges, and bridges have all been shown to improve balance in healthy adults, even after just a few weeks of training.

Better Bone Health

Many lower-body exercises, such as jumping, jogging, or simply walking, can improve the health of your bones over time. This is because these types of exercises stress the bones, which can increase bone density over time. This is especially important for women, who are at a higher risk for osteoporosis than men, but it’s beneficial for everyone to maintain strong bones throughout their lives.

Lower Risk of Chronic Disease

Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are some of the most pervasive and dangerous chronic diseases we deal with today. The good news is that lower-body exercises can lower your risk of these diseases. This is because lower-body exercise can regulate blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, protect the heart, and reduce the risk of colon and breast cancer.

Mental Health Benefits

Lastly, lower-body exercises can do wonders for your mental health. Physical activity has long been linked to improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Lower-body exercises can improve body image issues and self-esteem, contributing to overall well-being.