Wobble boards train not just balance, but also strength, stability and motor coordination. Also referred to as balance boards, these pieces of equipment feature a flat, typically wooden board mounted on top of a half-sphere or half-circle. In...
Fitness or stability ball exercises help build core muscle strength and flexibility. Physiotherapy exercises using a fitness ball help stabilize muscles that support the spine, neck, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles without causing further pain...
The Internet is bulging with articles on the importance of developing core muscle strength. Core strength exercises generally use body weight as resistance and are performed by both men and women in the same ways for the same purposes. Core...
An exercise ball, or stability ball, is an effective tool for training your abdominal muscles. In fact, performing an abdominal crunch on a ball may be more effective than doing the same exercise on the floor, according to a 2001 project...
The kayak roll, also called the Eskimo roll, is a technique used to turn a kayak over when it capsizes. The technique relies on a “hip snap,” which is a quick movement using core muscles to snap it into an upright position while...
The external and internal oblique muscles, which are on the sides of your abdomen, help flex your spine forward and laterally and rotate your torso to the left and right. Moving through these ranges of motion against external resistance...
As its name implies, the stomach, or abdominal, crunch targets the muscles that surround your stomach, including the rectus abdominis in front -- also known as the "six-pack" muscle -- and the external and internal obliques on the sides. Consult a...
Every time you walk through the supplement sections of pharmacies or grocery stores, you are bombarded with advertisements touting the efficacy of numerous pills, powders, teas and liquid formulas that burn stomach fat. What it all boils down to...
Your core muscles are used in almost every movement, and they help with body support and posture, according to Spine-Health. Having strong core muscles can improve your fitness and make many activities of day-to-day life easier. You can do...
The obliques are the muscles the sides of the ribcage and are considered part of the core group of muscles. When it comes to burning fat off of these muscles, you need to take an approach that not only focuses on oblique exercises, but also...
Core muscles surround your pelvis and trunk, and include the abdominal, gluteal, hip-flexor and lower-back muscle groups. Strengthening the core muscles improves your balance and stability and makes performing full-body movements easier, according...
The abdominal group is more complicated than most people think. Exercises such as cable crunches use the rectus abdominus muscle, which is the muscle you can see on a person with washboard abs. But this isn't the only muscle of the abs. Cable...
Pilates focuses on your core while strengthening other muscles and increasing flexibility. Kettlebells, a cast iron weight resembling a cannonball with a looped handle, involves swinging motions that offer both a cardiovascular and strength...
A slim, toned waistline can complement any physically fit body, but it is not possible to reduce only one area of your body at a time. However, with the consistency of a proper diet and exercise program, a trimmer waistline is achievable.
Most people experience back pain at some time as a result of injury or degeneration or after surgery. The key to preventing back pain is to build strong core muscles in your abdomen, obliques and buttocks. When you've had a spinal condition,...
Performing abdominal, or ab, exercises with a Thera-Band strengthens the bones, connective tissues and muscles of your midsection, allowing them to perform their functions appropriately, which include moving your trunk, protecting your organs and...
Suffering from knee problems is frustrating, but should not hold you back from engaging in fitness activities. According to the "New York Daily News," knee problems can be the result sudden injuries, overuse or repetitive stress. Implementing a...
A strained achilles tendon is often the result of an overuse injury from high energy sports such as running and jumping. Reverse squats are designed to help strengthen your quadricep and core muscles, but they put a large amount of strain on your...
Blood flow in the large abdominal artery is severely restricted when you carry excess tummy fat, according to the National Institutes of Health. Even a small amount of fat leads to an increased risk for high blood pressure and arterial diseases....
In the mid-1990s, personal trainers started using stability balls with their clients as a way to improve core muscle strength and add an element of instability to otherwise stable exercises. Beginning exercisers, pregnant women, seniors, athletes,...
Weighted fitness balls are also known as medicine balls. They come in sizes that range from 1 to 30 lbs and they are made of durable rubber, vinyl or leather. These tools can be used to build core strength, muscle endurance and stability. When you...
Your back muscles are used in almost every physical activity you perform daily. Exercising the back increases strength and flexibility. It also will help to protect the back against injury. A wide variety of back exercise devices are on the...
P90X is an intense home fitness program. Created by Tony Horton, this program is meant to last 90 days, and is not for those new to exercise. The program is designed to help you get to the next level of fitness through muscle confusion. This is...
Spot reducing is a myth, meaning you cannot lose fat from just one place. Instead, you can melt inches off your entire body, including your waist. To lose 1 lb. of fat you must burn 3,500 calories. The quicker you burn your calories, the more...
If you just have a small belly, you're probably more interested in improving your appearance than your health. Still, losing excess belly fat can have an overall positive impact on your health, according to MayoClinic.com. When you carry extra...
Toady's tennis game has evolved into a fierce fitness battle among competitors. Players are playing at a pace unthinkable, exploding into their shots with massive force, firing ground-strokes at incredible speeds. To compete in tennis, players...
Core training is about keeping your body in alignment and in balance for movement. It involves using your torso and hips together to generate strength and move in different directions. Core training is not just training your abdominals by doing...
Flat abs aren't just attractive; they also increase overall health by providing a solid, strong core for everyday activities. Although crunches are often considered a dependable route to a flat stomach, ab isolation exercises alone may not be...
Hernias occur when stomach muscles weaken and fat or intestines protrude through an opening in the stomach wall. Lifting a heavy object can result in a hernia, particularly if your abdominal muscles are weak. Exercising regularly can help prevent...