TRX (Total body Resistance Exercise) training, also known as suspension training, is a popular method of functional strength training that utilizes straps and handles suspended from a fixed point to create resistance for exercises.
The straps allow for a wide range of exercises to be performed, targeting multiple muscle groups and developing overall strength and stability.
Suspension training, TRX, with its compound movements and functional patterns, is one of the most functional ways to strength train and offers many benefits, from improved core stability to increased muscle tone, and flexibility, making it a great option for people of all fitness levels[1].
If you are wondering whether TRX is right for you and your fitness goals, keep reading to find out more.
Is Trx Functional Strength Training?
Yes, TRX is a form of functional strength training. TRX suspension training is considered a type of functional training because it uses body weight to build strength, stabilizers, and mobility.
Quick Summary
- TRX, or Total Body Resistance Exercise, is a type of functional strength training that uses a suspension system to provide resistance for workouts.
- TRX training works several muscle groups while also improving general strength and stability, making it an excellent workout choice for people of all fitness levels.
- TRX training is flexible, and workouts may be made simpler or more difficult. It’s also portable and may be utilized anyplace there’s a solid anchor point.
- Functional strength training is another great way to train that is similar to TRX, it replicates real-life motions and uses a variety of equipment.
- To get the best functional fitness outcomes, it is good to integrate a number of various forms of strength training exercises, such as functional strength training and TRX.
TRX can be placed almost anywhere, allowing you to enjoy your workout sessions inside and outside.
What Is Trx(Suspension System) Training?
TRX (Suspension System) training is a sort of functional strength training in which straps and handles are suspended from a fixed point to provide resistance for activities. The straps are attached to a wall, ceiling, or door, and the user hangs on to the handles or straps to execute exercises utilizing their own body weight as resistance.
Suspension training enables the execution of a wide range of exercises, targeting numerous muscle groups and developing overall strength and stability.
During each exercise, the straps offer an unstable surface that activates deep stabilizing muscles and requires entire body participation.
Exercises include, but are not limited to, rows, push-ups, squats, lunges, and core exercises such as planks, leg and knee raises. The straps’ instability makes the workouts more difficult and effective.
TRX training is veritably adaptable, making it perfect for individualities of all fitness levels, from newcomers to athletes, because the resistance can be modified simply by changing the angle of the straps.
It’s also movable, which means it can be put up anywhere with a strong anchor point, making it ideal for anyone who is limited in time or space.
What Is Functional Strength Training?
Functional strength training is a type of training which has a goal to replicate real-life motions in your exercises. It emphasizes pushing, pulling, and squatting movements to help you execute everyday tasks like carrying groceries or ascending stairs with ease. The idea is to work on numerous muscle groups at the same time to improve total strength, stability, balance, and flexibility.
When you’re doing functional strength training, you’re also focusing on making sure all your muscles work together seamlessly.
The exercises focus on compound movements that work multiple joints and muscle groups at once. Squats, deadlifts, rows, and press exercises are all examples of these compound movements.
Functional strength training also frequently uses a range of equipment, such as dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, medicine balls, and even your own body weight.
This variation keeps your workout program interesting and efficient. It may also be customized to your specific needs and fitness level. It is something that everyone, whether a beginner or an experienced athlete, may profit from.
Consider reading:
What Are Similarities Between Trx Training and Functional Strength Training?
There are some significant similarities between functional strength training and TRX training:
- Focus on compound movements: Both types of training concentrate on complex motions like squats, rows, and push-ups that hit several muscles and joints at once. This is a pretty effective approach to work out your entire body.
- Functional patterns: The emphasis of functional strength training and TRX workouts is on exercises that replicate commonplace motions like squatting, pulling, and pushing. The fact that you can carry out those routine duties with ease truly helps.
- Improve overall strength and stability: Developing overall strength and stability is a goal of functional strength training as well as TRX. In order to ensure that your entire body is strong and prepared for anything, they emphasize exercises that target your core, legs, back, shoulders, and arms[2].
- Adaptability to different fitness levels: Both TRX and functional strength training are adjustable and can be adapted to accommodate anybody, from beginners to professional athletes, regardless of fitness level.
- Utilize body weight as resistance: Using your own body weight as resistance is a feature of both TRX and functional strength training.
What Are the Differences Between Trx Suspension Training and Functional Strength Training?
There are several significant differences between functional strength training and TRX:
- Equipment: While functional strength training may make use of a variety of traditional resistance training equipment, including dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, medicine balls, and bodyweight movements, TRX training makes use of straps and handles hanging from a fixed point (TRX suspension trainers).
- The focus of training: Functional strength training has a broader focus on using a range of equipment and exercises to enhance overall fitness and function, whereas TRX training has a more narrow focus on using body weight and instability to produce resistance.
- Range of motion: Functional strength training may employ movements like a complete squat, a full deadlift, and other exercises with a greater range of motion than TRX training, which frequently stresses a limited range of motion.
- Resistance: Bodyweight resistance and instability are used in TRX training, but functional strength training may also use machine resistance as well as external resistance like weights and resistance bands.
- The setting and setup: Functional strength training may be done in a gym or any other open place, but TRX training frequently needs a secure anchor point, such as a wall or ceiling.
5 Benefits of Suspension Body Weight Training
Below you can find the most notable suspension training benefits.
1. Delivers a Fast, Effective Total-Body Workout
Suspension training enables the execution of a variety of exercises that target numerous muscle groups and provide a full-body workout in a short amount of time.
The straps offer an erratic surface that causes each exercise to need full body effort by engaging deep stabilizing muscles.
In this manner, more muscle groups are used throughout each repetition, increasing its effectiveness.
2. Helps Build a Rock-Solid Core
Most suspension training exercises involve the use of the core abdominal muscles, which work the abs, back, and obliques very well.
With the unique resistance that suspension training offers, you may do both isometric and dynamic core workouts to enhance your core strength in a single fitness program.
“Core training is the missing link to developing the power to hit a baseball or golf ball farther or a hockey puck or tennis ball harder and faster.” – Michael Boyle, Strength and Conditioning and Strength Training Consultant
3. Benefits People of All Fitness Levels (Pro Athletes to Seniors)
People with different levels of fitness can readily modify suspension training to their needs.
Exercises may be changed to make them easier or more difficult, and the straps can be adjusted to give more or less resistance.
This makes it a viable alternative for everyone, from elite athletes to seniors just beginning an exercise regimen.
4. Can Be Set-up Anywhere
As long as there is a secure anchor point, suspension training straps make it simple to set up a workout anyplace.
Because of this, it is quite practical for those with little time or space.
5. Builds Relative Strength
You may develop relative strength with suspension training, which makes use of your own body weight as resistance.
As a result, you will become stronger compared to your own body weight.
This is useful for functional movements involving raising your own body weight, carrying groceries, or climbing stairs.
Bodyweight TRX exercises such as push-ups and rows are excellent for building relative upper-body strength.
Consider reading:
- 10 Best Gymnastic Rings for Bodyweight Functional Strength
- 10 Best Pulley Systems for Home Gym Workouts
FAQs
What Type of Training Is Trx?
TRX is a type of suspension training that incorporates body weight movements to concurrently increase strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability. The TRX Suspension Trainer, a performance training gadget that uses gravity and the user’s body weight to accomplish the exercises, is required.
Is Trx Enough for Strength Training?
No, TRX isn’t enough for strength training. TRX training focuses mostly on functional, complex movements that engage numerous muscle groups at once, although it may not target specific individual muscle groups as well as traditional strength training exercises.
Is Trx Considered Calisthenics?
Yes, TRX training is considered a form of calisthenics. Calisthenics is a type of exercise in which you use your own body weight as resistance. TRX training fits into this category since it employs a suspension system to allow the user to execute workouts utilizing their own body weight as resistance.
Is Trx Enough to Train Functionally?
No, TRX is not enough on its own to fully train functionally.
TRX is based on bodyweight resistance and exercises that use a suspension system, a single piece of equipment, whereas functional strength training generally includes a variety of equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, medicine balls, and even bodyweight, and it may use compound movements that replicate real-life motions.
To get the best functional fitness outcomes, integrate a range of various forms of strength training exercises, such as functional strength training and TRX.
References:
- https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/a-z/trx-suspension-training
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30605922/
