Weight room warriors aren't the only ones who pick up heavy objects on a regular basis. Plenty of real life jobs require the strength to chop down trees, handle a jackhammer, stack sandbags, you name it. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research suggests that kettlebell training can help hard workers more safely carry the load.
Researchers recruited 40 adults who regularly worked jobs associated with muscle pain and discomfort. The median age was 44, and 85% of these subjects were female. A training program was established where kettlebell swings were performed 3 times a week, although some subjects didn't participate.
After 8 weeks of training, those who worked kettlebells had improved reactions to changes in posture and were able to jump higher than members of the control group who didn't train. Being better equipped for bending over and picking up heavy objects can help protect against back pain inside and outside the gym.
