If you've ever woken up in the middle of the night with a painful, tense muscle in your leg, you have experienced a leg cramp. Leg cramps are contractions that occur involuntarily in the muscles of the calf, thigh or toes. In most cases, leg...
Muscle injuries can occur in many different ways, from direct trauma to exceeding your muscle's capacity for work. When you have an injury to one of your muscles, you may experience pain, swelling and a limited range of motion. Implementing an...
Several reasons that could cause a person to walk on one leg include a fracture, recent surgery or an amputation. Regardless of the reason, one leg is not accustomed to carrying all your upper body's weight, so muscle soreness is to be expected....
After an injury, it is important to regain range of motion (ROM) in the ankle. Any stiffness or swelling in the ankle can affect your gait (the way you walk), and will affect you in your sport. Your entire kinetic chain can be affected, leading to...
Resistance tubing is a convenient, versatile alternative to dumbbells and barbells. It is also very portable, unlike standard weights. You can do exercises at home, the park or your hotel room with resistance tubing. Resistance tubing is available...
Stretching is important to muscle and joint health. Overstretching can cause pain and injury to your muscles and joints, however. Stretching with severe muscle soreness or a muscle strain can also cause pain and might lead to more damage. When...
Throwing a baseball, whether you're playing outfield, second base or pitching, involves more muscle involvement that than found in the arm. Throwing a baseball encourages movement, contraction and power as well as coordination of movement from...
Oblique crunches take their name from the major muscle group they work: the external and internal oblique muscles of your abdomen. These muscle layers wrap around your torso and form a natural internal corset at your core. Another major muscle...
Your core is made up of four main muscle groups that provide the stability you need to keep your spine aligned. A strong core can prevent injuries during exercise and other activities, help maintain proper posture and help you excel in competitive...
A sprain is a painful injury caused by the overstretching of ligaments. The ligaments are what hold bones together at the joints and attach bones and muscles. Leg sprains are very common, especially in the ankles and knees. Sprains range in...
The incline bench press is a variation of the traditional bench press performed on an inclined exercise bench. To properly complete an incline bench press, sit on an inclined bench angled at 45 to 60 degrees. Grasp a barbell with an overhand grip,...
Knee wraps are long lengths of dynamic, stretchy material that are worn around the knees for support when performing leg exercises like squats, leg presses or leg extensions. These wraps, simply put, transfer some of the workload from the leg...
The deltoid is the main shoulder muscle, wrapping from the front of the shoulder all the way to the back. Deltoids are used with almost every arm movement, whether for a handshake or heavy weightlifting. Aside from functionality, strong, healthy...
Your internal and external sphincters are muscles that wrap around your anus and help you control your bowel movements. Some people lose control of their bowel movements and develop a condition called fecal or bowel incontinence. You can...
A common myth in the fitness world is that toning occurs through high repetitions at low weight. In reality, muscle tone comes from building muscle tissue to add definition to your muscles while burning away the layer of fat covering the muscles,...
Everyone experiences muscle aches from time to time, especially after strenuous activity. But sore muscles aren't always due to physical exertion. You may experience muscle pain due to some illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme...
Your abdominal muscles stabilize your torso and support your spine. Strong stomach muscles will improve your posture, increase your balance, and allow you to move more efficiently throughout the day. Developing strong stomach muscles can be done...
It can be challenging to find the time and finances to work out at your local gym. Purchasing comparable equipment for home use often is prohibitively expensive, and the equipment can take up valuable space in your house. However, you can complete...
Exercise the latissimus dorsi muscle to improve your posture or to make you look more fit and strong. This muscle wraps around the sides of your body and spans the middle and lower half of your back. You use your latissimus dorsi muscle when you...
Those dreadful crunches, do they really work? Sure, if you mix up your routine with a variety of exercises. Traditional ab exercises like sit-ups and crunches are very good for your abs, but the core muscles are like any other muscle that needs...
Castor oil is derived from Ricinus communis, more widely known as the castor bean plant. The "beans" are actually seeds that look like beans, and they are highly poisonous due to a component called ricin. The process to extract oil from the beans...
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, GERD, is the medical term for heartburn. If the muscles that wrap around the lower esophagus do not work properly, acids from the stomach reflux back into the esophagus causing a burning sensation in the chest or...
Painful intercourse, also called dispareunia, is a condition that can stem from physical, hormonal or emotional dysfunction. After childbirth and through the menopausal years, many women experience changes in the structure and elasticity of the...
Babies can bring the joys of motherhood, squishy wet kisses and wrecked abdominal muscles. The transverse abdominis, or the girdle-like abdominal muscle that wraps your core, is especially vulnerable to the strains of pregnancy. Wanting to get...
Strong hamstrings are critical for knee stability, but these muscles often go underdeveloped due to sedentary lifestyle or simply not choosing exercises that emphasize hamstring involvement. Although your hamstrings do work during some common...
Spa wraps are therapeutic treatments designed to provide specific benefits. The treatments are performed at day spas and resort spas, and involve either bandages infused with herbal solutions or a mud pack applied directly to the skin. Your...
If you are recovering from a hamstring injury but wish to remain active in your sport, a hamstring compression wrap may be just what you are looking for. A hamstring compression wrap is a short, adjustable band that fits snugly around the mid...
Disk pain tends to occur when the nerves between the vertebrae in your spine get pinched. In some cases, the disks that act as cushions between your bones slip out of place, causing an increase in spinal pressure. The pain can be excruciating, but...
The calf muscles at the back of the lower leg are important to target when strength and weight training for speed and agility. Learn how to do calf muscle exercises in this strength training video.
Resistance exercises are ideal for muscle toning. Learn exercises and stretches for your workout routine in this fitness video.
Resistance exercises focus on endurance and muscle tone. Learn exercises and stretches for your workout routine in this fitness video.
The plank pose uses a balance ball to target core muscles, developing muscular endurance while burning fat. Learn how to do plank exercises using a balance ball in this strength training video.
Use strength training to tone core muscles. Learn exercises and stretches for your workout routine in this fitness video.
