Active isolated stretching uses a different approach than typical static stretching because it involves contracting the muscle opposite the muscle you intend to stretch. Contracting the opposing muscle causes your isolated muscle to relax prior to...
"Shin splints" refers to pain in the front of the lower leg and is commonly associated with sports that require running. Shin splints may initially be a dull aching sensation after running and progress into intense pain even during walking if left...
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that may afflict you if you perform repetitive motions with your hands and fingers on a daily basis. Those sitting at a computer keyboard all day, use a register, sort items on an assembly line or...
Active stretches, also referred to as static-active stretches, are those that stretch the muscles while using opposing muscles to complete the movement. This type of stretching helps increase flexibility and strengthens the muscles. Examples of...
If you work out, you've likely made stretching part of your warming up and cooling down routines. It improves range of motion, flexibility, circulation and the overall success of your workout. Different kinds of training call for different types...
Rotator cuff tears are common among adults. Your rotator cuff enables your arm to rotate and also helps lift your arm. Some tears are the result of a single injury, but most of the time tears are the result of overuse, reports the American Academy...
The arch of your foot is supported by a thin ligament that connects the front to your heel. If this support band becomes stiff or inflamed, you may have plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes pain along the arch of the foot when running, toe...
Stretch your back muscles regularly and you just may improve your running. Stretching the muscles of your back helps prepare your body for the stress of exertion, gives you a fuller range of motion and improves your posture---which can mean more...
If you have a difficult time touching your toes or tying your shoes, try flexibility exercises. Flexibility exercises lengthen muscles to allow greater movement around joints. To avoid injury, make sure your muscles are warm before stretching. You...
Your hips are just one of the areas of your body that are prone to tightness and injury if you are a runner. Every stride that you make requires your hip joint to pull forward, and every time that you plant your foot on the pavement, your hips...
Active hamstring exercises are designed to help strengthen your hamstrings as well as your core muscles. In addition, active hamstring exercises will help increase your range of motion with respect to your legs and leg extensions. While the...
If you suffer from occasional or frequent low-back pain, you are far from alone. According to the American Pain Foundation, back pain is the number-one cause of disability in Americans under the age of 45 and more than 26 million adult Americans...
Exercises for the ankles minimize your risk of injury by increasing your balance and coordination during a wide range of activities. Dancing, running, weightlifting and many other activates require support from your ankles. Ankle exercises may...
If you suffer from shoulder tightness or muscle strain, often caused by frequent computer use (mousing) or athletic activities, you're familiar with the aching and sometimes stabbing pain associated with it. Whether lifting a bag of groceries or...
As people age, their knees often fall victim to strains, sprains and resulting pain. As one of the body's primary weight-bearers, your knees often take the brunt of activity, and you feel it, especially as you age. About 30 percent of adults 65...
Have you ever woken up and realized you "slept wrong" and can hardly straighten your neck? Your neck is a delicate structure, prone to muscle strains, sprains and whiplash, yet is called on to serve the important functions of stabilizing your...
Your rotator cuff is a set of muscles and tendons in your shoulder area that helps control range of motion and stability when lifting, throwing or performing other simple actions with your upper body. A rotator cuff injury occurs when the muscles...
Prolonged sitting in front of a computer or at a desk can cause your whole body to become stiff and weak, especially your abdominals and hips. When this happens, your body tends to hunch forward, rounding the upper spine. According to Ann...
In tennis, poor swing mechanics can strain specific arm muscles. If you have repeated poor mechanics, it can eventually lead to forearm and wrist pain. Discomfort in these areas could be risk factors for more serious injuries, such as tennis elbow...