
Five weeks of resistance band training was enough to significantly improve hamstring and inner thigh flexibility in subjects that participated in a new study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. Plus, as certified trainer Sarah Gawron points out: "They can improve flexibility, mobility, and strength." And it doesn't even take that long to start seeing the difference. They believe that the instability created by the bands is what causes muscle fibers to fire even more than with free weights. The study's authors compared muscle activation during upper-body strength training exercises with resistance bands versus free weights and found the the results to be very similar. How is it that an oversized length of elastic can make your muscles stand at attention like no other? Seriously, resistance band training has been shown to be a "feasible alternative" to lifting weights when it comes to activating your muscles, according to recent research published in the J ournal of Human Kinetics. But first, let's get a bit more specific. That's why Women's Health rounded up the absolute best resistance bands the internet has to offer, all according to expert trainers and rave reviews.

Not only are they easy to store and use, but this gear can seriously amp up your muscle-building gains.

Allow Women's Health to introduce you to your new favorite workout accessories: the best resistance bands in the fitness game.
