Ballet students, especially those who dance en pointe, spend countless hours strengthening and building better coordination in their feet. Because the line of the foot is so important to the aesthetics of ballet, dancers with medium or high arches have a considerable advantage. Flat feet pose a problem from an aesthetic standpoint: inflexible ankles and low arches break the line of the leg. They also pose technical difficulties, as some dancers with flat feet have a more difficult time getting fully onto pointe. Certain types of pointe shoes...
The function of the gluteus medius is to help support your pelvis when the opposite leg is lifted, and to move your legs away from the midline of your body. Most people don't think to work their gluteus medius specifically, but...
Resistance workouts also prevent sports injuries, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association. A child can use his own body weight to strengthen the lower extremities. Squats, lunges and heel raises are effe...
The femur is the big bone in your thigh that is subjected to high forces at its junction in your hip joints. Exercises for the femur reduce the likelihood it will fracture around the upper end of the bone. Such exercises should...
Cross train with two or more forms of exercise to improve your body. You run to improve your cardiovascular health, maintain your weight and tone the muscles in your legs. Running uses a higher proportion of the back of your up...
Strengthen the muscles in your legs by participating in a consistent strength-training program that features exercises that target all of the major muscle groups in the lower body. According to Georgia State University's Depart...
The barbell squat offers your legs the most effective muscle-strengthening workout. Resistance training places stress on your muscles, introducing a force which builds muscle strength and power. Compound movements like squats r...
The soleus lies underneath the gastrocnemius and is important when pointing your toes when your knee is bent. For example, pushing the gas pedal in a car requires your soleus to contract. Performing a combination of aerobic, st...
As "The New York Times" reports, "women have long coveted sinewy arms, high and tight derrieres, lean legs and a regal posture" that ballerinas typically display. To achieve these lean dancer's legs, you have to workout the inn...
It also helps steady the pelvis and to support the knee. The easiest and safest way to work the outer thigh muscle is to perform side-lying leg lifts, but some exercise machines can help strengthen these muscles.
Leg fractures almost always affect the integrity of the calf muscles. You should only do exercises to strengthen the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles after a fracture of any leg bone, under the guidance of a physical therapist,...
Running is an exhausting task, especially during the first 10 to 15 minutes, when you need more oxygen than your body can supply. Improve your running performance by strengthening your legs so you can focus on running longer an...
The sole purpose of parkour is to train your body to move in, around and over obstacles as efficiently as possible. Parkour is a whole-body discipline that requires strength as well as speed and agility. To strengthen your arms...
The condition is common -- even normal -- in children, and usually corrects itself by seven years of age. Adults can also have knock knees, often due to arthritis or a knee injury. If the condition persists or causes pain when ...
Closed-chain quadriceps exercises are better for strengthening your leg muscles to improve your fitness and sports performance than opened-chain exercises. Closed-chain means that the distal end of a limb, such as your foot, do...
As a result, the stronger they are, the more efficient they are in accomplishing these tasks. What makes legs strong is building the amount of muscle they contain. If you are low on time or don't have access to a gym, there are...
They all work together to move your hip and knee joints together or separately, such as in flexion, rotation, and extension. Therefore, some of the best ways to strengthen the front of your legs would be to incorporate differen...
Lower body strength is especially important in performing dance leaps. These leaps are not perfected overnight and require training. Part of training to perform a dance leap is to strengthen your legs, which can occur through a...
According to SaneFit.com, leg and back strengthening exercises are often neglected when people perform strength training exercises. Instead, most people focus on muscle groups in the upper body like the arms and abdominal muscl...
Andre Panagos, a physician at Spine and Sports Medicine of New York. Decreased muscle mass and weakness increases your risk of sprains and fractures. If your legs weaken to the point that you have trouble standing or walking, c...
Thigh strengtheners are compound exercises that are effective at shaping and strengthening the muscles in the upper leg, primarily the quadriceps and hamstrings. Compound exercises are multi-joint movements that involve more th...
Regular home workout routines can help you manage and maintain an optimal level of physical health and fitness. Leg exercises strengthen muscles while increasing tone and definition. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in...
Leg development is an import and challenging component of overall physical fitness, affecting one's sport performance, health, fitness and vanity. Despite the many benefits reaped from sleek and powerful legs, many a gym-goer o...
With each step your take during a walk, you engage your entire body. From your hips down to your feet, you will feel the most impact. Strengthening your legs and hips will not only improve your stride distance and stride length...
There are many exercises you can do at home without having to pay top dollar to be a member at a gym. Workouts that aid in strengthening your legs for jumping include plyometric exercises. Performing these exercises gives you ...
"Check out his anterior tibialis" is probably not a phrase you will use to describe the musculature of someone's lower leg. Your anterior tibialis will respond to strengthening exercises but it is not a large muscle, so you sho...
According to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, exercise might be more important for people with limited mobility because they often are less active. Muscle-strengthening exercises that strengthen the legs...
Learning and maintaining proper form on leg exercises such as squats, lunges and side lunges is hard enough without worrying about holding on to extra weight. But once you can do more than your target number of repetitions on a...
The legs contain large, powerful muscles that get called into play with simple to advanced movements. Weightlifting equipment makes it possible for you to do exercises with added resistance. The main muscles in the legs are the...
Many people neglect developing their leg muscles in favor of targeting their upper body -- the chest, back and arms, or vanity muscles. This not only creates an unsightly muscle imbalance, but also inhibits your ability to gene...
Doing leg exercises in the water allows you to exercise without placing unnecessary pressure on your joints, because the buoyancy of your body in water encourages more movement and supports your body. This is beneficial to peop...
When you are at home, you might be limited as far as equipment goes, but you do have the weight of your body. By executing the right exercises, you can still recruit all the major muscles in your legs.
Your hamstrings are most active in activities such as sprinting, jumping and lifting objects off the ground. There are a number of ways that you can strengthen your hamstrings so that they perform better and are more injury-res...
Keeping your legs and hips strong can help you stay fit and healthy as you age. Most compound exercises like squats and lunges will target all the muscles of your legs, but you can adjust the angle of the exercise to place more...
By following the exercise routines outlined in the Wii Fit program, you can target specific areas of your body as well as receive an aerobic workout. Wear weights on your ankles and wrists to increase the benefits of the streng...
Faults in riding that stem from poor muscle strength in the rider can stress your horse, leading to poor performance. Your steed will respond better and be happier if you are sitting correctly; strengthening exercises can help ...
Running and leg-strengthening exercises are designed to increase muscle mass in your hamstrings and quadriceps as well as improve your running speed. While many running exercises will indirectly strengthen and tone your leg mus...
If you haven't exercised recently due to an injury, a health problem or a busy work schedule, you don't need a personal trainer or an expensive gym to strengthen your leg muscles. Instead, combine regular cardio workouts with w...
It's easier than you might think to strengthen your abs and legs. Use strength training exercises that target your legs and abdominals at the same time. Since your abdominal muscles stabilize your torso, leg exercises you perfo...
It is used as a primary exercise by powerlifters, some of whom have squatted over 1200 lbs in competition, and as an assistance exercise by weightlifters, many of whom routinely squat over 700 lbs in training. In the words of f...
Speed and strength can be improved at the same time with a few simple exercises. The more explosive you are, the stronger and faster you will be, as well as more resistant to injury. Special exercises to improve your technique ...
Easy cycle pedal exercisers assist with rehabilitation and fulfilling regular exercise needs. Easy cycles have advantages over other pedal exercisers and more options for use. They are smooth, low-impact and quiet. Pedal exerci...
Jumping, running and incidental contact in basketball increases the risk of ankle injuries, and players who have had previous ankle or leg injuries are at even more risk. Strengthening and balance exercises are one way to preve...
Your lower leg muscles can be divided into two compartments -- the anterior or front compartment and the posterior or rear compartment. Each compartment contains different muscles which perform opposite functions. Strengthen th...
Incorporating water exercises provides a therapeutic approach to strengthen your legs and back in a safe and gentle environment. Water exercises are useful for people who have pain, are rehabilitating an injury or are looking f...
According to the Sports Injury Clinic, high heels shorten the achilles tendon and calf muscles and put strain on the legs. Practicing leg stretching and strengthening exercises can help alleviate pain and prevent damage associa...
Perform all of these exercises lying on your side on an exercise mat. Prop your head up with one hand, and place the other hand on the mat in front of you to help you stay stable. Check with your physician before starting an...
There are different exercises that can help strengthen and tone your legs. Some floor exercises require just your body and a mat, while others require additional tools and equipment. The major muscle groups that you will targ...
Many core lifts strengthen your legs and hips. These core lifts are typically free weight exercises that involve multiple joints and muscle groups. Multi-joint exercises that strengthen your hips and legs are also very benefici...
Elderly people often have trouble with balance, coordination and daily activities of living due to loss in leg strength. Weight training has numerous benefits including bone strengthening, improved balance and coordination, fat...
Leg exercises are crucial if you want toned and firm quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings and calves. According to bodybuilding.com, you don't need to use weights if you just want general strengthening and toning, but weights are rec...
Stroke is the leading cause of disability of adults in the United States and is the third leading cause of death, reports MedlinePlus. Depending on the severity of your stroke, physical therapy can be beneficial in helping your...
The unstable surface of the wobble board forces the smaller muscles, tendons, and ligaments to control the board's movements. You can use the wobble board for injury rehabilitation, injury prevention, balance training and sport...
Almost everything you do on a daily basis involves your legs and if your legs are not strong enough, those activities become harder to complete. It is a good goal that you want to strengthen your legs, but you have to know whic...
Strengthening exercises help to keep your legs and knees healthy and reduce your risk of injury or conditions such as osteoarthritis, which limits mobility and activity, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons...
They must launch off the ground into spins, hold leg splits in the air and maintain correct posture and balance throughout the dances. In addition to core exercises and full-body stretches, leg strengthening exercises will also...
They have a poor blood supply and are not as flexible as muscles. Several ligaments attach your femur to your pelvis, your kneecap to your upper and lower leg and your lower leg to your ankle. Dr. Keith Bridwell, who is a profe...
A well-developed arch completes the graceful line of the leg. Ballerinas capable of dancing en pointe spend many hours at the barre building the strength of their feet and ankles. There are also foot-strengthening exercises ...
Legs get a real workout when you're skiing, especially the quadriceps muscles on the front of your thighs and the hamstrings on the back of the thighs. Performing exercises to strengthen your legs can help you get in shape for ...
Balance exercises can help you avoid potentially disabling falls and improve your quality of life. Two factors that contribute to balance are lower body muscle strength and timeliness of neurological signals to the muscles. Exe...
Exercise can strengthen the foot muscles, correct poor foot bio-mechanics, and reduce the risk of injuries, such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and iliotibial band syndrome. Perform such exercises correctly and consistentl...
The lower leg is made up of three distinct muscles that can be strengthen with the appropriate exercises. The tibialis anterior is located on the front of your lower leg, more commonly referred to as the shin. The gastrocnemius...
Running can lead to the overuse of many muscles in the lower body. Exercises to strengthen the legs can increase strength, which helps reduce the risk of injury while it increases running speed.
At this level, you are now able to target specific muscle groups and build upon the foundations of cardio-respiratory and calisthenic strength required to execute strength and endurance exercises without injury. Optimal exercis...
Choose a commercial grade treadmill to safely and quickly perform hill walks, hill runs, hill sprints, flat sprints and downhill running. These exercises are intended to be very challenging and should not last longer than 20 mi...
This makes strengthening your legs at home possible. You can do variations of the classic leg exercises, the squat and deadlift, at home with no equipment. You can also add dumbbells or a barbell to increase the weight, but you...
By strengthening your legs, you can experience increased energy while walking, reduced pain while standing and improvements in balance. Leg-strengthening exercises help fight muscle mass deterioration that is common with aging....
Using a stair climber is, fundamentally, the same exercise, done in a never-ending circuit. The length of time, as well as the intensity of the stair runner workout can be more easily modified and controlled, based on the needs...
If you have difficulty standing or getting on the floor to do traditional leg strengthening exercises, there are some exercise you can do in a chair. These exercises can help to tone the major muscles of the legs and are great ...
While walking and running will certainly strengthen your legs, you can do a number of strengthening exercises to increase leg strength. Cross training with other sports puts your legs, ankle and core in different positions and...
