By Israel A. Sanchez

The Kettlebells for a Fit Diver System

The fitness world is finally acknowledging the irreplaceable role of strength training in a complete fitness program and lately, scuba divers serious about fitness have been searching for ways to improve muscular strength safely and efficiently.

There is no denying the crucial role of strength training in the overall fitness program of the scuba diver. Strength is crucial for dealing with obstacles found in the diving environment and to make a difference when the unexpected arises. For the diver who wants to improve muscular strength, getting acquainted with the basics is the best way to maximize results, and kettlebells do a terrific job at this.

Our neuromuscular system evolves relative to the demands we put on it, in other words, the more we challenge it the more it develops. Studies have shown that time and time again, kettlebells make our bodies recruit more motor units than they normally would through traditional strength training. If you are eager to learn the foundations of building strength, keep in mind it happens in two distinctive phases.

The first phase is the fastest and involves neuromuscular recruitment. To put it plainly, as you start loading your muscles with new activity, your body starts using motor units it didn't have to use before and learns to recruit more fibers to get the job done. That's why in the early stages of training beginners improve their muscular strength without putting size.

In the second phase, after learning to recruit all the possible motor units and fibers, the body starts to create physical changes to keep up with the demands. The muscular fibers increase in diameter –or hypertrophy - to generate more force, fuel substrates in the cell mitochondria are optimized to be ready for the demands of training, and bones increase their density in response to the greater loads.

The shape of the kettlebell and nature of kettlebell lifting make it possible to add tremendous levels of strength without excessive size or hypertrophy, which is not highly desirable for most divers. Still if the diver wishes more hypertrophy, the routines can be modified to accomplish this.

If you have been wondering how to improve muscular strength for scuba diving, now you know the principles behind it are simple, and kettlebells can do a terrific job accomplishing this. If in doubt, seek guidance to optimize the loads properly, maximize recovery, and speed up strength gains safely.