Your knee is a complex joint consisting of ligaments, bones and tendons that are responsible for bearing and absorbing your body weight when your feet touch the ground. A degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis, or a knee injury may make it...
Your patella — the bone that makes your kneecap — is held in place by very strong ligaments. Subluxation occurs when one or more of these connective tissues, or the surrounding muscles, weakens and fails to stabilize the bone in the...
The bursa sac is a small, fluid-filled pouch located in front of your knee cap, or patellar, that helps the bones in your knee joint to move smoothly. Bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed and the sac fills with excess fluid. The most...
Your knee joints take a great deal of weight, pressure and force just supporting your daily movements. Your knees are also very complex joints, made up of three bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. These factors combine to make the knee...
To determine whether your quadriceps sore or you pulled a muscle, causing more serious damage, discuss your symptoms with your doctor, who can help you get an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Weak or tight quadriceps may tear during sudden...
The popliteus tendon runs from the back of your thigh and down to the back of your knee, then wraps around to the front of your shin. The main function of this tendon is to keep your knee in line with the upper and lower portions of your leg....
Knee ligament injuries are not uncommon in the sports world and may even occur during day-to-day activities. When a knee ligament is damaged, it causes pain and tenderness and in some cases problems with mobility. While many knee ligament injuries...
The jumping, running and constant, sudden stops and turns during a game of basketball can place excessive stress on your knees. This can lead to pain, inflammation and even a buildup of fluid in your knee. This condition is commonly known as a...
The intersection of the bones between your upper and lower leg form a complex support structure called the knee joint. Your knee joint allows you to bend and rotate your knee, enabling you to walk and run freely. Due to its frequent use, the knee...
Surfing requires agility, strength and exquisite balance. People who enjoy pushing their bodies to the limit while surfing or challenging themselves during extreme weather conditions put themselves at risk for injuries, especially to the knees....
The kettlebell is an exercise tool that looks like a cast iron cannon ball with a handle. It originates in Russia, where strength athletes and military have used it since 17th century. Kettlebell training is effective in improving your strength...
The muscles of the buttocks and inner thighs are called the glutes and adductors, respectively. The adductors should not be confused with the abductors, which are the muscles of the outer thighs. You can train these groups separately by doing side...
To prevent reinjuring the shoulders following surgery and rehab, it is important to take a safe and smart approach to training. Since the shoulders are involved in exercises for the chest, you need to be careful during execution of the exercises....
The hamstring muscles are on the back of your leg from the knee to the buttocks. The hamstrings include the short and long head of the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus and semimembranosus. All these muscles together bend the knee. The biceps...
Knee bend exercises are designed to help improve range of motion and flexibility in your knee joints and muscles. While many knee bend exercises require the assistance of gym equipment, it is possible to perform numerous exercises at home with...
Your feet and ankles are placed under a large amount of stress each time you walk, exercise and complete daily tasks. As a result, you are susceptible to conditions of the foot and ankle. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue that...
Chances are, as you were growing up, performing pushups was part of your calisthenics program in school. Pushups have been a widely used exercise in military boot camps, as well as civilian-style boot camps. The pushup has withstood the test of...
Large physioballs also known as Swiss balls--originally designed by an Italian--were first used clinically by Swiss physical therapist Dr. Susan Klein-Vogelbach in the early 1960s. Today the Swiss ball, also known as a spine ball, is commonly used...
It’s bathing suit season and you want to show off those toned and defined abs this year. Try to work your ab muscles three to four days a week. Be sure to incorporate exercises that work your rectus abdominus, which gives you the visible six...
The Ab Rocket is a piece of training equipment designed to strengthen your abdominal muscles and hip flexors. Abdominal exercises such as a basic crunch and bicycle crunches can be performed on the Ab Rocket with your spine and neck supported by...
Your hip flexors allow you to raise your knees and bend at the waist. They are important for providing forward power. Often, hip flexors are neglected during workouts, but these muscles are essential to develop because they act as brakes against...
Abdominal exercises will not melt fat from your midsection without a proper diet and cardio exercise, but they will strengthen your abdominal muscles. The main ab muscle, the rectus abdominis, is one long muscle sheath. You cannot completely work...
The competitiveness of speed skating means that athletes must work on their technique and physical attributes all year long. The best athlete does not always win an event, as hard workers can often overcome their more skilled opponents. By...
Tilt boards, also called balance boards, are devices that tilt when you stand on them and make you consciously maintain your balance. They can be used to improve your body awareness and reduce your chance of injury, or help you recover from...
If you tend to gain weight in the buttocks and hip region, toning exercises can help firm up the muscles in these areas. While the buttocks, or gluteus maximus, muscles are the largest in the body, the muscles that lift the hips -- known as the...
Integrating stretch bands, or exercise bands, into your fitness program, may help you strengthen, condition and stretch your muscles. Versatile, inexpensive and compact, the bands can improve exercise adherence while you're traveling or when you...
If you've seen a mini trampoline in your fitness store and wondered what all of the fuss is about, you should know that using a mini trampoline for fitness offers a laundry list of benefits, from improved cardiovascular health to lowered impact on...
