The lower abs are commonly worked with the use of body weight, ab slings and pull-up bars. If you want to add more exercises to your lower ab workouts, you need not look any further than a ball; known also as a stability ball, exercise ball, Swiss...
Your abdominal oblique muscles facilitate important movements such as spinal flexion, rotation, stabilization and lateral flexion, or side-bending. A wide variety of exercises target this essential muscle group, but the exercise ball elevates...
If you are looking to add variety to your abdominal workout while also increasing the intensity and calorie burn, working with an abs ball is the way to go. Abdominal exercises on a stability ball require you to work more of your core and other...
The muscles of your abdomen, the rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis and internal and external obliques, do more than simply provide you with that attractive "V" shape that is so coveted. These muscles help counteract the muscles of your back,...
Exercise balls are relatively inexpensive and versatile pieces of equipment that should be a part of any gym. Whether you are at a beginning, intermediate or advanced fitness level, exercise balls can help make your abdominal workouts more fun and...
The abdominals are some of the most commonly targeted muscle groups in the human anatomy. If you are looking to add some spice to regular ab workouts, then the addition of a medicine ball might be perfect for the job. These hard rubber fitness...
Fitness balls are known by numerous names, including physio ball, stability ball, yoga ball and Swiss ball. They were originally designed for use in physical therapy but quickly became popular tools in gyms and fitness centers for their ability to...
The lower abdominal muscles can be a tough area to target with common exercises like situps or crunches. A stability ball or exercise ball is a piece of exercise equipment that can help strengthen your core. Working out with a stability ball...
The stability ball allows you to target your abs as a primary or secondary muscle group on almost every exercise. Originally used in therapeutic settings, the economically priced stability ball is now commonplace at the health club and as a home...
Exercise balls add challenge, variety and intensity to ab exercises. The unstable surface of the ball requires the activation of more muscles to stabilize your body, which can create greater strength gains from an exercise. For most exercises, the...
The Swiss ball is a much-used core training tool found in gyms, homes and health clubs. The Swiss ball can be used for a variety of abdominal-targeting exercises to work all three muscles of the abdomen. This includes the transversus abdominus,...
Normal activities often fail to stretch and tone the abdominal area, creating the need for specific exercises that focus on this area. Regular exercise provides a multitude of benefits. In addition to helping you control your weight, resistance...
Using an exercise or stability ball offers you an opportunity to challenge your abdominal muscles for a more effective workout. Even the act of just sitting on the ball engages your abdominals. Your abs help maintain your balance and coordination....
A fitness ball, also called a stability ball, a Swiss ball or an exercise ball, can be used to increase the effectiveness of your abdominal exercises. Your body responds to the instability of the ball and must engage more muscles to maintain...
Any type of exercise that you do with a stability ball works your core muscles. To balance the weight of a stability ball, you need core strength and endurance to complete the exercises. Before you exercise on a stability ball, adjust your body...
Yoga balls are known by other names, such as fitness balls, Swiss balls, balance balls and body balls. When it comes to doing ab exercises on the ball, you can target your upper and lower rectus abdominus muscles and obliques which are found on...
Alwyn Cosgrove, a certified strength and conditioning specialist reporting for "Men's Fitness" magazine, notes that most people rely on traditional exercises that include crunches. He says that this is less than ideal if you're trying to build a...
An article in the May 2006 edition of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research detailed a study that explored the relationship between stability ball training and spinal stability. Lead author Jacqueline M. Carter reported that ball...
Dr. Susanne Klein-Vogelbach invented the Swiss ball in the 1960s as part of her rehabilitative physical therapy program. During the 1980s, the Swiss ball gained popularity in the states and is now a common piece of exercise equipment in gyms and...
Gym balls are training tools made out of durable rubber material. They get inflated to diameters of 55 to 85 cm, and can be used in a number of applications. When it comes to training the abs, multiple exercises can be done that target the upper,...
If you're like many, you work hard to tone your abs, namely the transverse abdominis, or lower abs. You can target these muscles separately for isolated tone, and you can do this at the gym using certain equipment. But using a simple large...
The average person spends a good part of their day stabilized by exterior objects. You can go from sitting at your desk for nine hours to commuting in your car to sitting on your couch. So it's no surprise that in many people the body's internal...
Body balls are training tools that are made out of durable rubber and they get inflated to various diameters. Training on a body ball can help you achieve results because your body is forced to contract multiple muscle fibers to stay balanced....
Stability balls, gyro balls, wobble boards, medicine balls and more all await you when you head to the gym to get your workout it. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the different pieces of equipment in the gym and once you get a routine it's...
An exercise ball is a good piece of equipment to have in your home gym. A medicine ball can boost the intensity of any workout, especially for your abdominal muscles. You can use an exercise ball to work the different parts of your core and get a...
An exercise ball is an ubiquitous piece of equipment found in gyms. Its small size and affordability make it a good addition to the home gym. The primary benefit of an exercise ball is the ability to do a wide range of core exercises using it as a...
Fitness balls are a common sight at gyms and fitness facilities. You may find them in the stretching room, the group fitness area, or stacked discreetly at the side of the free-weight area. You can use fitness balls as a core-challenging...
Even though yoga is a gentle form of exercise, many techniques have been incorporated to build strength and promote weight loss. A yoga ball is an inexpensive way to add variety to your routine and challenge core muscles. By performing balancing...
Pilates is a popular body toning and stretching form of exercise that traditionally was done on a mat. Today, Pilates exercise machines exist to give enthusiasts more options. A Swiss ball is an inexpensive piece of exercise equipment that may be...