Hearing a grunting sound in the weighting lifting area of any gym is not unusual. In some gyms, it is probably more unusual not to hear any grunting.

But is it good for you? We've been seeing an increased number of articles about people hurting their vocal cords by grunting. The North Carolina News-Observer ran a good article on the subject yesterday.

This may come as a surprise to some, but grunting may not even be necessary. There is no conclusive evidence that grunting results in a better workout. Certainly, if grunting takes the concentration off of what you're doing with your movement and body position, then stay quiet. You are better off doing the exercise properly, than sounding tough.