What is a key characteristic of progressive resistance exercise?

Progressive resistance exercise is fundamentally about the principle of progressively increasing the amount of resistance that muscles encounter during exercise. This method is key in strength training, as it promotes muscle growth and adaptation. By gradually increasing the resistance—whether through weights, resistance bands, or other mediums—participants can effectively challenge their muscles and stimulate hypertrophy and strength gains over time.

While body weight exercises and other forms of resistance training are valuable, they do not capture the essence of progressive resistance exercise, which focuses on progressively enhancing the load placed on the muscles. Similarly, aerobic capacity and flexibility play important roles in overall fitness, but they are not the primary objectives of progressive resistance training, which is specifically designed to improve muscular strength and endurance. Thus, the characteristic of strengthening muscles through overcoming fixed resistance is the most accurate representation of progressive resistance exercise.