The instep is the arched part of your foot that starts at the base of your toes and ends at your heel. This area of the foot contains numerous bones arranged in a series of three arches. Strengthening the insteps requires stren...
But they are involved in movement of the low back, mainly extension of the spine. Three types of exercises target your erector spinae muscles: isometric exercises, strength exercises and compound exercises.
Whether you're a musician wanting to be able to hit those high notes on your horn or you want to eliminate those unsightly wrinkles forming around your mouth, exercising the muscles around your mouth can help. As we age, stress...
While they might not be considered a major muscle group, they play a role in maintaining good posture and preventing spinal deviations. Exercises to strengthen your rhomboids help diminish kyphosis, a condition characterized by...
Sitting up, crawling, standing and walking are all exciting milestones in your infant's life. With each new milestone, your little one is getting stronger and developing. Help him grow by including exercises in your routine th...
This injury can occur as a result of suddenly changing direction when running or as a result of a direct blow to your knee. Rehabilitation for this condition often includes exercises to help strengthen the muscles around your k...
Visual analysis and language account for the two main processing skills performed by the frontal lobe. Overall, your frontal lobe plays a key role in planning, sequencing, organizing, visualizing and conceptualizing. Frontal lo...
The glenohumeral joint is the most movable joint in the body. It moves the shoulder in many directions. Therefore, it is also prone to injury, such as bursitis, dislocation and ligament and tendon strain and tear, according to ...
It is composed of cylindrical bones located in front of the spinal cord, which supports and stabilizes the neck by working with spinal ligaments, muscles, joints and tendons. The cervical vertebrae also controls rotation, flexi...
There are two tibialis muscles in the lower leg -- the anterior and posterior. The anterior tibialis is the superficial muscle that covers your shin and is responsible for dorsiflexion and inversion of the foot; the posterior t...
You can do exercises that strengthen your masseter in the convenience of your home without expense or special equipment. Keeping your jaw strong reduces your risks of developing injuries or symptoms of temporomandibular joint, ...
Your rhomboid pulls your shoulder blade back and inwards toward your spine, moving your arm and shoulder with it. You use your rhomboid muscles extensively when you row a boat. According to the website Exercises for Upper Back,...
Levator scapulae weakness can limit your ability to perform common daily activities, such as shrugging your shoulders or carrying heavy items. Strengthening exercises for the levator scapulae might help improve your posture and...
This muscle is one of the muscles more commonly referred to as the rotator cuff. Exercises to strengthen the subscapularis must involve rotating your arm inward as if to point your thumb down.
Using exercise to strengthen your muscles after a femur fracture will help you return to your functional activities, such as dressing, ambulation, stair negotiation and yard work. Your therapist may select a variety of exercise...
Between the sacrum and the ilium is the sacroiliac joint that stabilizes the pelvis and lower spine during movement. It offers little range of motion and serves as a shock absorber in the pelvis and lower spine. Strengthen and ...
Healthy, strong feet can improve technique, increase stamina, make your movements flow with more grace and precision and improve your height and stride when you jump or leap. Most importantly, properly exercising your feet musc...
Feldenkrais found himself unable to walk and, as part of his rehabilitation, developed a method of learning, movement and change designed to improve posture, coordination, flexibility, and artistic and athletic abilities. Accor...
Although spinal extension is the primary function of these muscles, they also assist with lateral flexion, or side bending, and trunk rotation ranges of motion. Strengthening the spinal erectors, just like any other muscle grou...
Strengthening exercises for your arms, legs and abs might be familiar to you, but it is likely that you have not given much thought to strengthening your crotch area. As an important part of your core, these muscles should not ...
Joint tissue helps protect all joints in your body. Tissues include tendons, ligaments and muscles, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Exercises to strengthen joint tissue will increase joint stability, ...
Patello-femoral syndrome or chondromalacia patella is knee pain that has numerous causes such weakness in the quadriceps and hamstring tightness. Fortunately, patella pain can be reduced and prevented with exercises focusing th...
The multifidus is a series of long, thin muscles that run deep along the spine from your lower back to your neck. Connective tissues and nerves attach to the multifidus with other muscles in the torso to stabilize the spine whi...
This is the only muscle of your four quadricep muscles that attaches across your hip joints and your knee joints. All the quadriceps muscles insert just below the knee joint at the patella tendon. To strengthening your rectus f...
Put simply, you walk differently because something else hurts. Although foot strengthening exercises may help, the key is to find out why your feet are turning inward in the first place. See your doctor before beginning foot ex...
Participating in a well-designed resistance-training program will help you achieve this objective. Include exercises that target all your major joints, and progressively add resistance over time to achieve maximal strength. Con...
A healthy and active lifestyle is not only helpful for your physical well being, but also works wonders on your overall mood and level of happiness. Exercise helps release mood-boosting endorphins, thus helping you stay strong ...
The muscle crosses in front of your shoulder joint, attaching to the scapula bone in your upper back on the inside and to the front of the humerus on the outside. Strengthening the subscapularis involves performing resistance e...
Always talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise program, and learn proper technique from a trainer before attempting exercises on your own.
The multifidus does aid in certain spinal movements, but its main role is to support, protect and stabilize the spine. Because of this, it is impossible to isolate the multifidus with any exercises, but you can do certain exerc...
This is known as foot pronation, which is the most common foot problem. Foot pronation from weak arches typically leads to heel spurs, shin splints, blisters and stress fractures. Exercise for the feet correct this problem thro...
They also work with your spine to maintain proper spinal alignment during some weightlifting exercises. Therefore, the National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends that you strengthen your scapulae by incorporating other musc...
This is because the gastrocnemius plantar flexs the ankle. This muscle also assists with bending the knee. Although variations in equipment exist, most gastrocnemius strengthening exercises are basically one of four kinds.
Unfortunately, the ACL is also one of the most commonly injured parts of the knee. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports 200,000 ACL injuries a year, with half of those resulting in surgery. However, you can prev...
Damage or injury to the colon wall or anal sphincter muscles can impair function and result in waste accumulation, fecal incontinence, sluggish bowel movement, constipation and the recirculation of bacteria into the blood. Your...
This muscle rotates the thigh laterally when it's extended and also assists in hip abduction when the hip is flexed. When this muscle is weak or inflexible it may irritate the sciatic nerve, which runs close to, and sometimes t...
Some people lose control of their bowel movements and develop a condition called fecal or bowel incontinence. You can potentially combat the effects of fecal incontinence with exercises that strengthen your sphincter muscles.
Fractures occur as the result of a fall, direct collision or automobile accident. Humerus bone fractures are treated with immobilization or surgery, depending on the severity of the fracture. As your fracture begins to heal, yo...
The term often is used interchangeably with physical therapy. Instead of using drugs to manage pain, physiotherapists rely more on exercise and rehabilitative workouts that target damaged bones and muscles. They also rely on to...
Obesity in children is on the rise. Over the past 30 years, rates of obesity in children have more than tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of 2008, the obesity rate for children aged 6 to 1...
The serratus anterior muscle runs from the lateral surface of your ribs to the inside border of your scapula. This muscle plays an important role in horizontal arm movements such as pushing and punching and is often called the ...
While usually associated with assisting in leg extension, the results of a 2007 study published in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" indicate that the VMO also plays a key role in knee tracking and knee stability.
Sacroiliac joint weakness can account for many complaints regarding low back pain. The muscles that innervate the joint include the glutes, piriformis and iliopsoas muscles, which, when strengthened, can better support the sacr...
Using the eye muscles too much can cause fatigue and stress, and cause the eyeball to lose its shape, which in turn affects your vision. Exercises that work the eye strengthen the muscles as well as relax them. Working the eye ...
Exercises to strengthen eye muscles are designed to maintain your vision as well as help alleviate symptoms of eye strain and other minor vision ailments. While glasses can help correct vision problems, they also weaken your ey...
Along with the tibia and femur, the patella helps to make up the knee joint. Each of these bones is covered with cartilage where the surface contacts with another surface. Common injuries to the kneecap involve weakness of the ...
The area surrounding your vertebrae can become painful due to repetitive stresses, sports injuries or other factors. With exercises to strengthen the muscles in the C5 and C6 region, you can help correct or even eliminate your ...
Lower back pain commonly occurs in the lumbar region of your body, as it is this portion of your body that supports your weight. Certain strengthening exercises can help to reduce pain, improve flexibility and posture, and incr...
The primary function of this muscle is to dorsiflex the foot, or push the foot towards the ground, and to invert the foot, or pull the foot towards the body. Strengthening exercises for the tibialis posterior are beneficial for...
The quadratus lumborum muscle has a number of functions. It elevates the hip, laterally flexes the trunk and stabilizes the lower back. Although the muscle is a common source of low back spasms, exercises can often prevent inju...
Tendinitis, also known informally as tendonitis, is a type of inflammation that occurs in the tendons, the sinewy, tough bands of fibrous connective tissue that anchors muscle to the bone. A version of tendinitis that occurs in...
The ischiogluteal bursa is positioned between the pelvic bone and hamstring tendon, so you may feel pain or discomfort when using your hamstring. Exercises can gently strengthen the muscles surrounding the ischiogluteal bursa.
This has important implications if you have osteopenia, osteoporosis or are susceptible to bone loss for any other reason. Participate in a progressive resistance-training program if this is the case, or if you want to strength...
The lower esophageal sphincter or LES is a one way valve which prevents gastric juices from flowing back into the esophagus during digestion. When eating, the stomach will produce acids to aid in digestion. While the stomach's ...
A well-rounded strength-training program includes exercises for all major muscle groups, including your legs, arms, back, chest, shoulders and abdominals. By training all of your muscle groups equally you build lean muscle tiss...
Muscles get stronger when you stress them beyond their customary limits. Following a well-designed resistance-training program will help you maximize muscular strength. Perform exercises targeting all your major muscle groups t...
Exercises to strengthen eyesight are designed to improve your focus and vision through repetition and consistent muscle strengthening exercises. Eye exercises range from massage to fast focus exercises.Consult your optometrist ...
Over the years your feet take a beating and can develop problems such as pain, inflammation and ligament damage. Women are more susceptible to foot problems due to the types of shoes they wear. Exercises that strengthen your fe...
Ligaments play an important role in joint health. After all, they are the bits of connective tissue that hold your bones together. While you shouldn't overwork your ligaments, strengthening exercises such as resistance training...
There are three different types of ligaments according to Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: peritoneal ligaments, fetal remnant ligaments and articular ligaments. Articular ligaments are often the ones that are torn or d...
When you suffer an injury to a joint, connective tissue or muscle, your rehabilitation program should contain a strengthening component. Strengthening exercises targeting the affected body parts can help restore function and pr...
The term "rotational movement" describes the circular movement of a limb around a fixed axis. While this type of movement is crucial to sport and functional daily activities, most traditional exercise machines do not facilitate...
Butt-strengthening exercises aren't just for looking great in a pair of jeans or getting ready for bikini season. Your gluteus muscles provide support to your legs and lower body, but can be difficult to isolate during regular ...
Strength training is part of any good exercise program, and an effective routine incorporates exercises and techniques based on your fitness goals. If your goal is to work the upper body, find exercises that can be done at hom...
Some people think of this as speed and power training for athletes, but this type of training may be too difficult for many people. Functional training can also refer to exercises that mimic daily activities, such as walking, t...
Strengthen your entire body with general exercises that target multiple muscle groups. Strength training uses your body weight, resistance bands and weights to achieve stronger muscles. General strengthening exercises provide b...
Tendons provide stability to our joints. When an injury occurs, the tendon can become inflamed, causing swelling and tenderness in the area. When the swelling and pain diminish, you can begin to do gentle strengthening and stre...
Eye training is a controversial eye-improvement strategy that was promoted originally as a way to avoid having to buy or wear glasses. There is no evidence that eye-strengthening exercises alter the anatomical or physiological ...
Amblyopia, commonly known as "lazy eye," is a condition in which one eye works harder than the other to gather visual stimuli and transmit these stimuli to your brain. It may be caused by visual alignment problems, or by differ...
This generally begins in the lower back area, which is where the sciatica nerve starts. Sciatica is not an ailment on its own. It is a symptom of another problem such as stenosis or a slipped disc. Strengthening exercises are u...
What started out as a specific set of exercises for a specific target population has now been expanded to include both men and women who may be suffering from urinary or fecal incontinence. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic...
In a world where people increasingly must sit at computers all day as part of their job, eyestrain is a major health concern. Fortunately, MayoClinic.com identifies eye-strengthening exercises as one of the ways you can combat ...
Eye exercise may help treat some types of eye problems. Certain medical conditions, such as lazy eyes and strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, require professional diagnosis and treatment. Other types of eye and vision probl...
It refers to the eye you use when you are aiming a bow and arrow, shooting a rifle or even playing a game of pool. To strengthen your vision and your ability to aim at a specific target, you can do eye exercises that may help y...
Disorders may be caused by injury, conditions like arthritis or muscle fatigue. A number of exercises, when combined with massage and stretching, may help relieve pain or other difficulties in function caused by TMJ.
Your feet and toes do a lot for you, and if you want to keep them in shape, exercise them. You don't need a home gym or expensive equipment to perform foot and toe exercises.
Both of these motions can lead to aches and pains in muscles and joints. Luckily, a few simple exercises can alleviate these problems. According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association, training results are specif...
Exercises to strengthen weak eye muscles will improve your eyes' muscle tone while also increasing blood circulation to your eyes, according to the Chinese Holistic Health Exercises website. Include eye exercises as part of you...
This can be caused by weaker muscles in one eye and, while it is important to seek medical attention for this, your doctor may also recommend some of the following exercises to strengthen your eye muscles.
This means that particular habits and emotions negatively affect each organ. Spleen qi suffers if you worry, oversympathize with others, study excessively or eat junk food, according to Michael and Lesley Tierra, herbalists and...
The upper portions of the limbs are among the most important areas of the human musculature in determining overall strength and power. Many exercises are dedicated to developing the biceps, triceps, quadriceps and hamstrings.
According to Holisticonline.com, loss of eye muscle tone can cause vision problems; however, simple daily exercises can improve the strength of these muscles. If you are experiencing any eye pain or serious vision problems, see...
The sartorius is a long strip of muscle that runs over top the quads and stops past the knee on the inner, or medial, side. This muscle is involved in actions like knee flexion, hip flexion and hip abduction. To strengthen the ...
The peroneal longus and brevis are muscles that run down the lateral side of the shins. These muscles move the foot downward in a motion called plantar flexion and move the foot outward in a motion called eversion. Exercises to...
If your feet are not strong enough, you will be prone to injuries and will not be able to execute many ballet moves. If you are female and wanting to learn or dance en pointe, make sure your feet are strong enough to support yo...
When pain and burning sensations run from the buttocks down the back of the legs, you may have a condition known as piriformis syndrome. This is due to the rare occasion that the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle...
A ligament is defined as a band of connective tissue that connects one bone to another bone. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, resistance training offers the benefit of enhancing the strength of connective t...
According to the Mayo Clinic, bladder control is a problem for many women and can be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, aging and being overweight. It is not possible to strengthen the bladder muscle itself. However, by strengthe...
Leaks can occur when you laugh, cough, sneeze or perform other strenuous activities, according to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. While the muscles may not be as easily accessed as those of the biceps or qu...
However, not all children will end up with the same level of visual acuity. Thankfully, a child's vision and focusing capacities can be enhanced with a variety of entertaining exercises. For optimal results, have your child e...
Thibodeau and Kevin T. Patton. The supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, teres minor muscle and subscapularis muscle make up the rotator cuff. Strengthening these muscles will help stabilize your shoulder, aid in rotation...
Having strong lower trapezius muscles can also improve the overall width and look of your back. The trapezius is responsible for the upward rotation of the shoulder blade that raises your arm overhead. Other functions of the tr...
Dr. William Bates, an ophthalmologist from New York, has developed some eye exercises that he claims can improve vision if the cause is tension or stress in the eye muscles. Some people dispute his theories, but others claim im...
The piriformis is a muscle in your buttocks area that works to rotate your thigh and extend and abduct your hip when the hip flexes. If you have pain in buttocks, consult a health professional for specific treatment. If you are...
It can also result from using your eyes in lighting that is too bright or too dim. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, reduced productivity, watery eyes and difficulty refocusing. In addition to wearing prescri...
