kettlebells have several benefits: they are inexpensive portable and effective at building cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. with the wide variety of exercises possible with a kettlebell anyone can get an excellent workout using just a single one. instructors generally recommend healthy women begin with a 17 lb. kettlebell while men begin with a 26 lb. kettlebell. staying on top of a fitness plan is always a challenge when you’re traveling. however due to their small size and ease of transport kettlebells really can be taken and used anywhere. in addition two recent studies in the journal of strength and conditioning research found that kettlebell routines can significantly improve cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. kettlebells are a solid investment for anybody looking to improve their endurance and strength. however they can only help you if used the right way. be sure to find a knowledgeable professional in your area to review the exercises. kettlebell exercises involve ballistic movements (swinging). they are inherently dangerous to the person using them to property in the area they are used in and to other people in the vicinity of their use. they also do not give you an even resistance through the range of motion: they can put dangerous levels of torque on joints. compare taking a dumb-bell and doing an overhead press with doing the same thing with a kettlebell. with the the kettlebell the full weight will be directly above the hand and wrist at the maximum extension awkwardly poised on the handle extension of the kettlebell making it very easy to lose balance and twist and injure the wrist either at the top of the extension or when beginning to lower the weight. if however while doing the overhead press equivalent with the kettlebell you allow the main weight to "hang down " so the handle is "on top" you also risk putting severe strain on the wrist. anyone over 50 over-weight or with any form of back or joint problems arthritis etc. or any medical condition that affects balance should not use them. in my opinion they should only be used in controlled environments supervised by professionals and with safety equipment in place (heavy matting on nearby walls and floors and adequate space between the user and any other person or objects). personally i think they are a fad a danger and should be banned. there are many other safe and sane ways to get either aerobic or anaerobic exercise or both.
what are the benefits of kettlebell training?