You’ve worked out with free weights, machines and resistance bands, but now you may add a new resistance-training tool to your arsenal: metal chains. Using chains can be especially beneficial for the small flexor and extensor muscles of your forearm because they require not only strength to lift the chains, but they also work the stabilizer muscles in your arms. Always speak to your physician, however, before beginning any new exercise program.
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The SlimLine, also known as the SlimLine Pod, is a cocoon-shaped capsule that delivers dry heat to help stimulate weight loss. The top of the SlimLine opens so that you can lie on the ergonomic bed, close the top and, while you...
Keep your body slim, toned and strong by performing dumbbell exercises every day. Even a few minutes a day working different body areas with dumbbells can be beneficial for toning and strengthening your arms, shoulders, hips an...
You would typically do the leg extension on a weight or cable machine. However, if you don't have access to this equipment, you can use a dumbbell for the leg extension exercise. Consult your health care professional before doi...
This exercise is most often performed with a barbell, but you can use dumbbells instead. Using dumbbells will increase the muscle activation in your shoulders and arms.
There are two common types of exercises incorporating the lats: those in which you work the weight perpendicular to your body, like rows, and those in which you work the weight vertically in line with your body, like lat pulldo...
Proper weight training can improve muscle development and strengthen bones and joints. It should be combined with aerobic training and can be incorporated into training for other sports, like soccer or baseball. Dumbbells are i...
Strength training is a crucial part of any fitness program, especially for teens. Building strength can increase your lean mass, help you reach a healthy weight and boost your strength. Consult your doctor before you begin usin...
If you've been to the gym, you may have seen someone perform an exercise where a dumbbell rests behind the neck during the down phase before the arm is extended overhead. This unique looking exercise is the overhead triceps ext...
The crucifix is a bodybuilding exercise that targets your shoulders and upper back. It involves holding weights in your hands and extending your arms to the sides, resembling the shape of a crucifix. It is often seen in bodybui...
In 2006, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports, 4.1 million Americans visited a doctor because of rotator-cuff issues. Dumbbell scaption, also called a dumbbell Y, is an exercise used in prevention and rehabilita...
You slide the weight up your torso until it is about chin level. Although the upright row works the shoulders and several muscles in your upper back, it is a contraindicated exercise in many situations. Replace the upright row ...
Choosing between using dumbbells or a barbell in your strength-training workout is mostly a personal choice since you can perform many exercises with either piece of equipment. But there are certain exercises that are more be...
Karate, when practiced correctly, engages every muscle in your body. But the muscles in your legs, core and grip contribute most to proper karate form. A specific set of dumbbell exercises to work these areas can help improve y...
These tools have the versatility to work all of your body parts and they are also very resilient. From a muscle-building standpoint, free weights give you a slight edge over machines because you are forced to contract stabilizi...
Whether they are doling out or receiving physical punishment, they need to have strong bodies to be successful in their sport. Weight-training with light dumbbells can help kickboxers improve their strength without compromising...
As a woman, especially if you are new to exercise, you do not want to experience complications or ineffective results. Your goals are to do exercises that keep your interest and yield positive results for your body. Dumbbells a...
They were first used as counter weights at Russian food markets, according to the Kettlebells USA website. The cannonball-shaped design with the convenient, attached handle makes the kettlebell a good tool to meld with dumbbell...
While surgery is often necessary for this injury, rest and immobilization can sometimes remedy the injury without surgery. You should perform dumbbell exercises only after you have successfully rehabilitated your arm using rang...
Dumbbells are an effective tool for building muscle in every major muscle group. Some people prefer using dumbbells because they appear less threatening than a barbell, and the stronger side of your body can't compensate for th...
A study published in the January 1997 issue of "The Journal of the American Medical Association" indicates that resistance training reduces pain in those with knee osteoarthritis and suggests that doctors prescribe resistance e...
Modern-day dumbbells have little to do with bell ringing but are a common exercise tool found in most gyms and many homes. Used in conjunction with an exercise bench, it is possible to exercise just about every major muscle in ...
Your pectoralis major adducts your humerus, or brings your upper arm in toward the middle of your torso. You duplicate this motion with flies and incline flies. A fly, an isolation or single-joint exercise, allows you to focus ...
Exercise and diabetes form an important combination. In the past, cardiovascular exercise was emphasized as the choice for a person with diabetes. This recommendation has changed to include resistance training in a diabetic's w...
The muscles of your shoulders are the link between your chest and back muscles, and the levers or bones in your arms. Conditioned shoulder, or deltoid, muscles enable you to effectively transfer the strength and power of your l...
Dumbbell toning exercises should incorporate multiple body parts to move together in different directions, which can help you improve movement patterns, body awareness and full-body strength. Use a heavier weight if you can per...
Other exercises require one or more tools to increase the challenge of the exercise. The side-lying leg raise is both types of exercise. You can perform this exercise using only the weight of your body or add dumbbells and a Sw...
Dumbbell exercises for toning help restore or build muscle tissue while simultaneously reducing fat. Compound movements are ideal for toning because they involve multiple-joint movements that maximize the amount of affected mus...
Partners can spot each other in weight training or time one another with a stopwatch during cardio intervals. Another option is performing two-person dumbbell exercises. Coordinating your movements with another person is chall...
You can do most any strength exercise with a pair of dumbbells. With this versatility comes a higher risk of injury. Dumbbells allow you to move in any path. You are responsible for controlling the weight and performing exercis...
Dumbbell training is relatively easy to learn because of the dumbbells' shape and balanced weight. Therefore, you can perform a variety of full-body exercises by using one or two dumbbells and combining upper and lower body mov...
The energy and music in your class is important to set a good environment, but the workout you give keeps your students coming back. Add more challenging total body dumbbell exercises to your class for more advanced students.
The flexors sit in the inside, or medial side, of the forearm, and they get activated when you move your hand toward your forearm. The extensors sit on the lateral side of the forearm and perform the complete opposite movement....
Variety is important in an exercise program, not just for the physical benefits, but for the mental benefits. Doing the same basic strength exercises over and over can breed boredom and a lack of motivation. To keep your workou...
Your calves work with your ankle joints, feet, thighs and hips to control the rate of deceleration and acceleration when you move, such as walking, running and climbing stairs. Therefore, the National Academy of Sports Medicine...
Strengthening the core muscles improves your balance and stability and makes performing full-body movements easier, according to MayoClinic.com. A variety of core-strengthening exercises require using dumbbells to provide exter...
Dumbbell exercises should be performed every week to be effective. Most dumbbell exercises require a significant amount of joint stability. You also strengthen and stretch the muscles, bones and connective tissues when exercisi...
The bicep takes up one-third of your upper arm. It is made up of the biceps brachii and brachialis. The biceps brachii is the main muscle and has two head: the short head and the long head. To gain size in your biceps, you need...
As a senior citizen you will benefit from incorporating seated dumbbell exercises into your current fitness program. Using a chair to assist with strength training increases your muscle strength while relieving pain, improving...
Strength-training machines are a beginner friendly way of starting out, but once you're familiar with the basic body mechanics behind common strength-training exercises, you can switch to using dumbbells instead.
Dumbbells and barbells are free weights that allow you to isolate specific muscle groups for strength training. Unlike natural-resistance exercises that use your own body weight, dumbbells and barbells allow you to modify the i...
Exercising with light dumbbells can help establish a strong foundation for improving strength, flexibility and balance in your body. However, when performing these exercises, remember that you are not weightlifting. Heavy and e...
Dumbbells and barbells are relatively easy to use because of their balanced weight and shape. You do not need much space, and you can train your entire body using one or both of these tools. Basic exercises with these pieces of...
Dumbbell exercises add a challenge to your workout routines by isolating the specific muscles associated with the lifting motions. This causes microtears in your muscles, which promotes muscle growth and strengthening as you re...
The sagittal plane contains forward and backward movements, while the transverse plane contains rotational movements. The frontal plane contains lateral, or side-to-side, movements. Several lateral exercises use dumbbells for b...
In general, use two pairs of dumbbells in your workouts: A light pair for working small muscles and heavier dumbbells for working your legs or other large muscle groups. Some exercises can be performed with a single dumbbell.
For women, the downward pull of gravity over time can have devastating effects on the physique. Your breasts, in particular, are subject to the ravages of gravitational forces. While you have no control over stretched skin, bui...
Not only are dumbbells portable and relatively inexpensive compared with other strength-training equipment, dumbbells also make numerous strength-training exercises for multiple muscle groups possible. In addition, dumbbells al...
To increase your arm size, you should follow a balanced training program, which works all your muscle groups equally. However, if you really want to give your arm muscles a boost, then adding in an extra arm workout every week ...
Working out with dumbbells at home is more convenient and less expensive than joining a gym. A quality set of adjustable dumbbells costs less than a yearly membership at a typical gym and is a one-time expense. Dumbbells are ea...
While both muscles work to plantar flex the foot, the gastrocnemeus only works when the knee is extended. Like all other muscles in the body, the muscles of the calf must be overloaded and stressed in order to adapt and become ...
The side bend is a strength-training exercise that targets your oblique muscles, or side abs. Hold a dumbbell in one hand to add resistance to the exercise and make it more intense. Although some lifters perform the exercise wi...
Beginners, the elderly and individuals suffering from joint injuries or sensitive hands will benefit by exercising with Cap barbell neoprene dumbbells. These dumbbells are covered with soft neoprene and have contoured grips. If...
Dumbbells are a highly versatile piece of workout equipment that can be used to strengthen a wide variety of body parts. There are several exercises that require you to lift a dumbbell so that it ends up behind the body. Two of...
Dumbbell exercises allow for a full-body lifting routine and create functionality and versatility. Standing exercises with dumbbells recruit muscle groups that force you to engage you core muscles and force you to balance and a...
Working out with dumbbells is one of the most effective ways to build muscle and tone your arms. Free weights, like dumbbells, activate stabilizing muscles which allow you to control your movements. Dumbbells give you the free...
There are many exercises you can do to work your shoulders. The dumbbell front raise is an excellent exercise for beginners to build stability in the shoulders and for conditioned athletes to build strength and size. The Americ...
Free weights like dumbbells increase the benefit of strength training, because your muscles work not just to push the weights but also to stabilize them. Because of this added level of difficulty, you should stick to beginner e...
The dumbbell swing combines a squat with a forward shoulder raise. It is done as one continuous motion. You start holding the dumbbell in front of your thighs. Descend into a squat and as you stand back up, swing the dumbbell u...
All of these anatomical movements can be replicated using dumbbells. By performing a variety of exercises for your pecs, you are much more likely to develop aesthetically pleasing and functional chest muscles.
The middle deltoid muscle is the one you use to abduct your arm -- that is, move it away from your body. Exercises to tone and strengthen this muscle will help give your shoulders their characteristic, defined shape.
As water exercise became more popular through the 1990s and 2000s, more and more fitness products for that environment entered the market. One of these products is the buoyant aquatic dumbbell.
You will have more versatility if you have a pair of dumbbells with which you can adjust the weight, though the heaviest weight you can lift is 40 lbs., compared to having a single, 40-lb. dumbbell. The key to changing the inte...
While this form of exercise does build speed and endurance, it does not burn as many calories as strength training. Strength training turns fat into lean muscle and increases your metabolism for an escalated caloric burn. By ad...
Therefore, they make ideal tools to gain both muscular strength and size because you can isolate and integrate muscle groups during exercise, according to Juan Carlos Santana, director of the Institute of Human Performance. Wit...
Dumbbell exercises are easier to do than barbell exercises within a limited space, whether you train in a small room at home or a crowded gym. It also is easier to drop a dumbbell on the ground if you cannot lift it than push...
Barbells are generally used for these exercises, and the resistance can be adjusted by sliding weight plates onto the ends. For a variation with Olympic exercises, dumbbells can be used in place of barbells. These range from 1 ...
These muscles also provide you with the ability to perform walking and running motions, and respond well to exercise. If you don't have the money, time or inclination to join a gym, simply picking up a pair of dumbbells and per...
Exercising with dumbbells is an effective way for men to improve overall health and fitness. Free weights such as or dumbbells incorporate the stabilizing muscles during the movements, which may be more effective in producing o...
Dumbbells are a versatile piece of equipment because you can use them for a total body workout anywhere. Exercises can be combined so that legs and upper body are used in the same exercise, thus improving the effectiveness of y...
Though buoyant hand bars made of plastic are often used for aquatic fitness, try weighted dumbbells for the same exercises. The resistance will be on the way up, as opposed to being downward when performed with buoyant equipmen...
According to Dr. Laskowski of Mayo Clinic, you should perform one set of 12 repetitions per exercise using heavy weights, and increase the weight if you are able to perform more than 15 repetitions. To ensure muscle recovery, t...
If you see someone walking for exercise outdoors and also swinging small dumbbells in each hand, do not mimic them. Weights are best used for resistance training in exercises in which your body is not vulnerable to injury. Thi...
They allow for a wide range of movement patterns, which makes total-body conditioning easy to perform anywhere. Choosing just five simple exercises, you can perform an effective total body conditioning routine in under 45 minut...
Consult an exercise professional to design an individualized dumbbell training program and to ensure that you're performing your chosen exercises correctly.
to more than 100 lbs. They typically come in pairs and can be used together, but you can also use one dumbbell at a time depending on the exercise. In many cases, people use dumbbells in addition to cardiovascular exercise a
Dumbbells come in a wide range of weights. Weight benches are also a versatile tool for the home gym, but can be expensive and take up a lot of space that some users might not have in their homes. There are plenty of dumbbel...
You can increase the resistance benefits of your aquatic workouts by adding dumbbells to your exercise sessions. Water dumbbells are available in various weight resistance amounts and are designed with a handle in the middle of...
High pulls with dumbbells exercise your upper and lower body together, qualifying it as a total-body exercise. Total-body exercises do not exercise every muscle group in your body, but they do challenge your coordination and bu...
You can promote men's health with a 20-minute dumbbell workout that includes compound exercises and high intensity training. Compound strength training involves lifting exercises that take your workout to the next level and sav...
They are used for stability exercises during crunch moves as well as in conjunction with weight-training moves. When combined with dumbbell weight training, fitness balls help you engage the core and work stability muscles.
Working out with dumbbells is a fun way to exercise and carries many advantages when compared to machine exercises. Dumbbells are relatively inexpensive and are an ideal addition to any home gym. Training with dumbbells helps s...
Dumbbells can give you enough resistance to develop strength, build muscle and burn fat. A well-rounded program can reshape your physique and improve your health. Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise pro...
They offer several advantages over training with weight machines but can also easily lead to injury if you take on too much weight or are not careful to use proper exercise techniques.
Exercise will not increase your bust size, nor will it reverse the inevitable downward forces of gravity. Fortunately, a well-designed dumbbell training program strengthens the pectoral muscles, which support your bust. Pectora...
Lifting weights can improve your coordination, balance, circulation and bone strength in addition to making your muscles more efficient. You won't necessarily get huge muscles from lifting dumbbells; weight training doesn't bul...
Dumbbell exercise and routines are effective in maintaining healthy muscles.
One of the benefits of using dumbbells instead of weight machines or a barbell is that both sides of your body will work equally as hard to perform the exercises because both hands will hold the same amount of weight. Your weig...
Switch up your strength training routine from strength machines to dumbbell exercises. Free weights help engage core muscles and are effective in helping correct muscular imbalances. Adding dumbbell exercises to your strength t...
Dumbbells let you create a variety of bodybuilding, muscular endurance, muscle-toning and calorie-burning workouts. Knowing how to create these different workouts and which exercises to include will help you achieve the fitness...
Dumbbells are types of free weights that can be moved in multiple directions. This is advantageous when it comes to your workouts. Lifting free weights stimulates daily life situations and helps promote full-body stability. Whe...
They vary in weight and can help just about anybody build strength. They are especially useful for toning the arms and shoulders. The options are endless when it comes to the workouts you can perform with hand-held weights. Man...
Resistance training helps maintain muscular strength, which in turn, maintains independent living for the elderly. Using dumbbells is an easy way to start an exercise program. Dumbbells provide a safe and effective means of str...
Working out in the water can help tone your body while reducing strain on your joints. There are many exercises and various types of equipment for a water exercise program, such as water dumbbells to tone the arms and core musc...
Dumbbells, or free-weights, are easy to use and highly portable. Most exercises can be done in your own home or in a gym or health club. Before starting any new exercise program, speak to your medical doctor for more informatio...
While using dumbbells, you can easily increase or decrease the weight you're lifting and also adjust the range of motion of the exercise to meet your needs. Pick up several sets of dumbbells of varying weight so you can adjust ...
Its shape and center of gravity allows you to train certain muscle groups to increase muscle mass. Whether you want to increase muscle definition, reduce body fat or create a new exercise to avoid boredom, train multiple body p...
For a muscular, well-defined stomach, you need to progressively increase the difficulty of your abdominal exercises while maintaining a rep range of 10 to 20. One easy way to do this is to add resistance by performing stomach e...
Dumbbells can increase range of motion and increase use of stabilization muscles. With dumbbells and a bench, you can perform exercises for the entire body.
If you don't have the space to store big pieces of equipment, get yourself a set of dumbbells and store them in the corner of your basement. Dumbbells allow you multiple degrees of freedom to do exercises.
Dumbbells, often referred to as free weights, offer exercises that are effective at sculpting arms and shoulders through workouts that take 10 minutes a day, 3 times a week, with the goal of training until you can't do one more...
Dumbbells generally are reserved for strengthening the muscles of your arms, legs and back. However, you also can use them to work your abdominal muscles by making traditional exercises more challenging. Dumbbell abdominal exer...
The ability of these muscles to expand and contract is sometimes limited by tight and inflexible chest muscles, thereby limiting your breathing ability. Certain dumbbell exercises work to increase chest expansion and, in turn, ...
Dumbbells are made of cast iron and they range in size from one to 120 lbs. These types of free weights give you plenty of room to roam when it comes to exercises, being that they are not bound by cables or pulleys. If you are ...
They range in size from a few pounds to over 100 lbs. and are made of cast iron or steel. There are many exercises you can do with hand-held dumbbells to target major muscle groups.
Building arm muscles with the right combination of exercises using dumbbells will give you sexy, toned, strong arms. The biceps brachii muscle is in the upper arm. It has several functions, including rotating the forearm and fl...
It's easy to concentrate too much on the showier muscles, like the biceps and shoulders, and neglect the smaller muscle groups. Forearm muscles, however, enable you to move your elbows, wrists, and fingers in a variety of ways....
The ACSM recommends that seniors participate at least twice per week in resistance exercise that emphasizes the whole body. Dumbbells give seniors an affordable and effective option for performing resistance exercises. Once you...
Dumbbells are convenient home exercise aids; just a few dumbbells in standard weights, such as 5, 10, 15, 25 and 35 lbs., can be adapted to a wide variety of exercises for all fitness levels. Best of all, dumbbells require litt...
Dumbbells can give you an effective workout when training your calf muscles. They are relatively cheap, take up little room, and can be used almost anywhere. As long as you use proper exercises that target the calf muscles and ...
According to the American Council on Exercise, the purpose of exercising with an exercise ball is to develop coordination between your muscles. By exercising on an unstable surface, you must create stability with your body by a...
Performing full-body exercises not only saves you time, it also helps you burn more calories, increase creativity and move better. Rather than just training one body part or movement at a time with dumbbells (or with any tool),...
An adjustable weight bench allows you to use a flat, inclined or declined position to perform chest, triceps, shoulder, back and arm exercises. Dumbbells provide you freedom of movement and enhance your workout over the use of ...
Dumbbells are an excellent form of resistance that are inexpensive, easily stored and with which complete strength training routines can be performed. Dumbbells recruit muscle groups that force you to balance, coordinate and al...
Compound exercises on the other hand, involve more than one muscle group and multiple joint ranges of motion. The end result of this is a high amount of muscle recruitment. Although these exercises are commonly done with barbel...
Dumbbell exercises build strength on multiple levels. Because they are free weights, dumbbells can stimulate muscle groups that stabilize movement. They are also ideal for sports-specific training, allowing one the benefit of r...
