What is a primary goal of resistance training aside from increasing muscle mass?

A primary goal of resistance training, aside from building muscle mass, is to enhance athletic performance. This form of training helps improve strength, power, speed, and endurance, which are crucial for athletes across all sports. It develops the muscles and the neuromuscular system, allowing for more effective and efficient movement patterns. By increasing strength, resistance training also contributes to better performance in activities that require explosive power, agility, and endurance.

While improving dietary habits and increasing flexibility are beneficial aspects of a training regimen, they are not primary goals of resistance training itself. Dietary changes usually come from differing nutritional strategies, and flexibility is typically enhanced through different types of stretching or mobility work rather than directly through resistance exercises. Additionally, reducing aerobic capacity is not a goal of resistance training; rather, it is often complementary to aerobic training, as improved strength can lead to better efficiency during both aerobic and anaerobic activities.