Many layers of anatomy behind the left breast can cause pain during exercise. The breast sits on top of the pectoralis major and minor muscles. Than there is the rib cage with bones, cartilage, intercostal muscles and nerves. The heart and lungs...
The lats and pecs are two of the largest upper body muscle groups. Strong lats help create the V-shaped torso, while pecs create an aesthetically pleasing chest. Overdevelopment and tightness in these muscle groups can contribute to bad posture...
People with Tietze's disease have pain, inflammation and swelling in the costal cartilages, or the cartilage that reaches from the ribs to the breastbone. This disorder may be related to some rheumatic diseases, but physicians are not sure. Some...
While most people associate breathing with what happens in your chest, the movement of your stomach is actually very important for breathing. A muscle below your lungs, called your diaphragm, controls your breathing by expanding into your stomach...
When training intensely, you may sometimes pick up small injuries which are part and parcel of working out -- but they can be inconvenient and force you to step back from training for a short time. One common pain experienced by trainees is a...
Since the ribs and rib cage are attached to the spine, dysfunction in the spine can cause symptoms and problems in the ribs. There are 12 pairs of ribs, and the first 10 articulate with both the thoracic spine and the costal cartilage on the front...
Pushups are amongst the most widely performed exercises and are used by elite athletes, the military, law enforcement officers and exercise enthusiasts the world over. There are great many variations of pushups that you can choose from, including...
Exercises for your sternum can involve anything from stretching to weightlifting. A sunken chest can be helped by stretching, breathing and some weighted exercises. Weighted exercises develop the muscles of the chest that attach to your sternum...
Stretching the pectoralis minor and major muscles helps decrease tightness in your upper chest. Stretching elongates the muscles and releases tension that can build up within the muscles fibers. The pectoralis minor and major can be stretched...
Wild salmon are naturally found in the Pacific Ocean. Their habitat extends from California up to Alaska and from Siberia over to Japan. Many species of salmon fish spend their adult life living in the salt water of the ocean. However, they are...
The muscles of the shoulder account for several arm movements. According to Exrx.net, the shoulder can flex, extend, abduct, adduct and internally and externally rotate. Flexion is the movement of the arm up in front of the body. Extension is the...
Yogalates is not a new kind of coffee drink. It's a hybrid exercise that combines yoga and Pilates techniques. The fitness methods share some similarities, but while combo classes may be fun, yoga and Pilates are based on different sets of...
Most of us have experienced that strange tingling sensation when we accidentally bump our elbow or "funny" bone. The reason this occurs is because the ulnar nerve is compressed and cannot carry nerve signals appropriately. The term for compression...
Asthma is a disease that causes swelling and inflammation of air passages. Those suffering from asthma may experience wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and difficulty breathing. Symptoms may be more pronounced in the morning or evening and are...
Your pectoralis major, pecs for short, is the largest muscle in your chest and is responsible for three major shoulder joint actions: horizontal flexion, adduction and medial rotation. All of these anatomical movements can be replicated using...
A strong, well-built chest is the aim of many exercisers--especially men. Your chest, correctly called pectoralis major, is responsible for drawing your arms forwards across your body and also pulling your arms into your sides from...
You can strengthen your pectoralis muscle at home by regularly performing exercises that push forward from your chest or exercises that open and close your arms while lying on your back. Your pectoralis muscle originates at your clavicle, sternum...
Lung capacity and good health go hand in hand. A strong respiratory system means more oxygen for your muscles and better endurance, no matter what type of workout you’re doing. Like other muscles in the body, under-using the muscles you need...
In his book, “Return to Life Through Contrology,” Joseph Pilates wrote: “Breathing is the first act of life, and the last… above all, learn how to breathe correctly.” Movement through proper breathing is one of the...
Natural sources of energy are available in many different forms around the world, and include everything from fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal, to renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind energy, biomass, geothermal and tidal...
When participating in any exercise program, you will experience a fair amount of soreness, especially when you are first starting out. The important part is to know the difference between normal muscle soreness and pain from an injury. Often...
The pectorals are made up of the pectoralis major muscle, which assists in shoulder and arm movement, and the pectoralis minor muscle, which helps the rib cage rise. Tightness of the pectoral muscles can result in back, neck and shoulder pain, and...
