Having strong forearms isn't just about looking good in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, or being able to open canning jars easily. No, having bigger forearms is a great way to get bigger arms overall, since they're obviously next to your biceps and Triceps.
That's not all, however. Although getting stronger is often treated as a goal in itself, regular resistance-training exercise may help your body's fight against aging, according to studies. And oddly enough, having a strong grip could be a key indicator of a longer life expectancy.
A study, published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, found that grip strength, one of the least popular forms of strength training, was a Useful 'biomarker' to measure well-being as you age. Grip strength was found to match overall strength, upper extremity function, bone mineral density, fractures, falls, and malnutrition.
The stronger your forearms, the fewer falls you will have
This makes some sense. After all, people tend to get weaker as they get older. Having a strong grip means climbing stairs, grabbing railings, and being able to lift heavy objects more easily, with less chance of falling. This decrease the number of falls in older people: With a strong upper body, they will be able to stabilize themselves.
The more muscle you have, the longer it takes for it to atrophy and wear down, and if you continue to build that muscle by training weights until your retirement, you'll stay active much longer. Too you will need a higher protein intake to maintain that strength, which represents a lower risk of malnutrition.
Other research from University College London, published in the British Medical Journal, seemed to reach a more alarming conclusion: weak grip strength could be seen as a biomarker of premature death. It is true that it may not be correct to draw too many firm conclusions from such research, but it can make us stop and think, let's face it.
It's entirely possible that other factors could accidentally cause grip strength to appear to be a more important metric than it really is. But it's still worth doing some strength training at any age, and possibly avoiding an early grave always seems like a good motivator to us.
Another Clinical Interventions in Aging study also found a link between grip strength and mental health. The study mentioned a positive correlation between increased forearm strength and cognitive decline, depression, sleep problems, diabetes, multimorbidity, and quality of life.
We're not being so simplistic as to say "do these exercises to cure depressionBut many studies, too many to list here, show a clear correlation between regular exercise and more positive mental health.
It has been shown that endorphins released during strenuous exercise induce feelings of euphoria, and the dopamine (the "happy chemical" of the brain) is released in the achievement of a goal, such as lifting a weight that used to be too heavy for you. The scientific journal Comprehensive Physiology even found that regular exercise could help prevent cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's.
So, with all this in mind, we leave you here. The best exercises to strengthen the forearms.