Resistance bands are one of the few, truly versatile pieces of gym equipment that are just as effective for home use as they are in the gym. While they are relatively harmless when used correctly, the bands with a stronger resistance can certainly build up some tension that could cause damage if they are not anchored correctly.
One of the most common anchoring points for resistance bands in a home gym is an internal door but do resistance bands damage doors?
Resistance bands can damage doors if used incorrectly. To prevent resistance bands from damaging a door, you should ensure the door is stable and can remain secure with tension/resistance placed on it, secure the band on the closing side of the door and finally, make use of a dedicated door anchor.
It’s important to be careful when utilizing any gym equipment at home, this includes mounting, anchoring, bolting down, or installing anything in general. In this article, I’ll cover whether resistance bands can damage doors and how you can avoid it.
Purpose of Resistance Bands
No home gym is complete without a set of resistance bands. These ingenious elasticated bands set the gold standard in versatility, offering an unmatched range of exercises from a single piece of equipment.
The origin story of resistance bands is a humble one: designed to provide a low-impact increase in difficulty in post-injury exercise, these bands began as equipment for rehabilitation and recovery. Nowadays they are a staple of home workouts, with entire exercise regimes dedicated to them, and it’s easy to see why.
Resistance bands are convenient, they’re simple to use, don’t take up too much space, and don’t hit the wallet too hard. Not only are the practical benefits numerable, but they also provide a simulation of pretty much every cable machine you’d find in a gym.
Do Resistance Bands Damage Doors
When it comes to installing your resistance bands the DIY difficulty is low, but as with any exercise equipment, you’re going to be exerting a lot of force and energy through these bands. As tension builds up, especially when using a higher resistance set, the chance for damage can increase significantly.
Homes are not designed to function as a gym and when we are trying to modify them to fit this purpose, you need to implement systems that will minimize the likelihood of damage.
Doors typically take a beating when it comes to utilizing home gym equipment with potential damage through the use of door-mounted pull up bars and although yes, resistance bands can damage the doors in your property, the risk is very minimal as long as they are fastened safely and securely before use.
How to Anchor Resistance Bands to a Door
Sure, securing resistance bands to your door before a workout is simple, and takes no time at all, but regardless you should still exercise caution.
The first question to ask yourself is which door in your property is going to be the best anchor for your setup – no matter how careful you are when installing your bands if the door itself isn’t strong enough then it’s probably going to suffer damage. Here are the basic things to look out for when making your choice.
- Age – How old is the door? Is the material showing signs of wear and tear, are the hinges coming loose? If the structural integrity is lacking then you’re best off fastening your bands to a more solid, newer door
- Material – The harder and denser the door is, the better. A lot of doors in newer properties, particularly inside the homes, look pretty solid but are effectively hollow inside. Inspect the door before making your choice as these are going to be very susceptible to damage if pressure is applied to them during your workouts.
- Outside door – If at all possible, the exterior entrance doors in your property will almost always offer the most stable anchoring point for your resistance bands. They are designed to be secure and sturdy, so if space allows it and you can anchor your specific bands to this door, you can work out with confidence in the stability of your makeshift gym.
Essentially, it is recommended to always inspect the door you plan on using before you anchor anything to it. Resistance bands might not look it, but they can take some serious power during your exercises, so make sure you choose a door that can take the strain.
Now, I’ve covered this previously with a dedicated article on how to anchor resistance bands and the key thing to keep in mind when anchoring a resistance band to a door is to make use of a door anchor.
Does It Matter Which Side of the Door I Use
The short answer is a resounding yes. You should always be using your resistance bands from the side of the door that pulls closed, so you’re pulling the door closed and making it more secure if anything.
Using the bands on the opening side of the door puts you at a greatly increased risk of the door swinging open, which becomes more likely the stronger you are, and is likely to cause some significant damage to not just the door but yourself and the bands themselves.
If there really is no other spot available in your home to anchor your resistance bands, at the very least make sure that the door can lock securely, with a deadbolt or an equally solid lock – this isn’t a corner you want to cut.
What Not to Do With Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are equipment designed for exercise and should be treated with the same care and caution as your cast-iron weights. Below are a few safety tips on what not to do with your bands to avoid damage to your property, yourself, and your wallet.
- Don’t anchor the bands by the rubber or latex material itself. Resistance bands should always be fasted to a surface using the specific anchor attachment provided or an anchoring strap. Directly anchoring the material itself will greatly reduce the lifespan of your equipment – the wear and tear over time will occur much faster this way.
- Don’t release the resistance bands whilst they are under tension. This is a bad idea for very obvious reasons. Letting go of the bands while they are pulled taut will send them flying into either yourself or the door they are anchored to, essentially becoming a projectile that will cause definite damage. In the same vein, avoid jerking them around too much – every movement should be controlled and executed slowly and surely, which will, in turn, provide the best results from your workouts.
- Don’t store your resistance bands in direct sunlight. Resistance bands are typically made of latex or some other synthetic rubber, and if not stored properly will degrade rapidly. Avoid direct sunlight as this will break the material down quickly, and risk them breaking during your exercises.
To get the most longevity out of your resistance bands, inspect them carefully between uses. No matter what product you have bought, whether you’ve started with a budget-friendly resistance band set up, or have invested in something like the TRX system to anchor on your door, even the slightest damage can significantly increase the risk of breaking during your workouts.
As long as you follow the usage and storage instructions for your specific product and keep an eye on your equipment, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of one of the most versatile exercise systems available for your home gym.
Bottom Line
So, do resistance bands damage doors? As with most gym equipment being utilized at home, resistance bands can damage doors if used incorrectly.
Check to make sure the door you are using is solid and can hold up well against external force (check hinges, frames, lock etc..), attach the resistance band to the closing side of the door, and most importantly, make use of specific equipment to attach it correctly like a door anchor product.
If you follow these steps then a resistance band will not damage a door and can be used safely at home.
