Developing muscle in your upper thighs can help you add shape to your legs. The upper thighs consist of the quadriceps, located at the front of the thigh, and hamstrings, located at the back of the thigh. You can work your upper thighs by...
Skiing is a sport, pastime and, for some people, an essential mode of transport. There are a variety of types of skiing, including downhill, slalom, cross country and telemark. Regardless of whether you ski on snow or an artificial surface, the...
The human thigh is composed of the quadriceps, hamstrings and adductor muscles. The quadriceps are located in the front of the thigh and the hamstrings are located in the back of the thigh. The adductor muscles are located on the inside of the...
Football is a rough contact sport, making strength and power important factors for most football players. It is important for football players to understand which muscles are most active during gridiron activities so that training programs can be...
The leg press is done using a specific machine found at your local gym. Several different types of leg press equipment vary in how position you are positioned while doing the exercise. Common varieties include 45-degree, seated, lying and hack...
To use an elliptical machine, you have to stand on a platform that glides back and forth in an oscillating fashion while holding on to handles that also move back and forth. These machines are safe for most people to use, as they do not impact the...
Sprinting refers to brief high-intensity running at maximal effort. Typically sprinters have lean, defined muscles and lower body fat percentages due to the increased metabolism and muscle resistance caused by sprinting. Learning what muscles are...
Heavy squats strengthen your legs and add functional power that is required for nearly every sport. When completing squats properly, you should feel all of the weight on different parts of your legs, rather than on your back and abdomen. Heavy...
Numbness and itching in your quadriceps can interrupt your workout and even cause difficulty with routine activities such as climbing stairs. Exercise-related injuries and certain health conditions can cause numbness and itching in your...
Exercise balls build core strength, improve balance and increase range of motion and flexibility. The balls provide you with an unstable exercise environment; work out on them and challenge your stability while increasing muscle tone....
While improving your kicking performance in soccer is generally considered to be a case of hours of practice, it is also important to know which muscles are working when you kick a ball, and what they are doing. Knowing which muscles are used can...
Thigh strengthening exercises tone your thighs and may improve your running or exercise performance. Strong thighs help stabilize your pelvic region and lower back, two factors that influence posture and lower back pain. Include thigh exercises...
The upper leg is composed of two major muscle groups: the hamstring and the quadriceps. The quadriceps is located in the front of the thigh and is responsible for knee extension and hip flexion. The hamstring is found in the back of the thigh and...
Your quadricep is located on the front of your upper leg. This is a large muscle group that is involved with leg extension. Leg extension is used when you walk, when you move from seated to standing positions or when performing specific...
Your quadriceps are located on the front of your thigh. Their job is to extend your knee and flex your hip. They are made up from four muscles: rectus femoris, vastas lateralis, vastas intermedialis and vastas medialis. These four muscles share a...
Leg press is a closed kinetic chain movement known for building muscle in certain areas of the lower body. A closed chain exercise is a physical activity where a limb is fixed and cannot move. These types of movements are functional in nature,...
While walking may seem like a simple physical task, it involves a series of muscular contractions and joint movements. As a weight-bearing exercise, your body overcomes resistance and gravity, placing an overload on your lower body muscles. Your...
Many conditions can cause leg pain and stiffness. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, pain is the most common symptom associated with muscle disorders. However, muscle stiffness can also manifest in a person with a muscle...
Your knees and ankles, along with your hips, are major weight-bearing joints in your body. Every time you walk, run, climb stairs or squat down, your knees and ankles support your body weight. The loading experienced by your joints increases...
The muscles on the upper thigh consist primarily of quadriceps and the hamstrings. Located on the front of the thigh, the quadriceps work to extend the knee. The hamstrings are location on the back of the thigh and work to curl the leg back. It is...
Strength training workouts can help improve muscle strength and technique. The American College of Sports Medicine recommend that adults complete a strength training workout twice a week. There are a variety of strength training moves that can be...
The complex structure of the knee joint leaves it more prone to injury than other parts of the body. If runners do not strengthen the supporting muscles, knees are left susceptible to injury and pain. Performing exercises to build strength and...
Your knee receives support from two main muscles, the quadriceps and hamstrings. The quadriceps are located in your thighs, the front of your knee. The hamstrings run along the back of your knee and thigh. Strengthening these muscles will reduce...
Stretching is very important, though often overlooked, in ensuring that your joints and muscles stay strong. Stretching your muscles also helps make them less susceptible to injuries. You should always stretch your legs before and after doing any...
Your hip flexors are the muscles that bend your hip to move your legs forward when walking or running. These six muscles, which include your quadriceps and are located on the front of your thigh, can be injured due to a rapid slowing down when...
Exercising after an arm amputation will help prevent muscular atrophy and provide the benefits of resistance training. You'll gain increases in both muscular endurance and strength. Incorporating these exercises into two weekly strength-training...
Hamstring problems and injuries are common in athletes at all levels. For the most part they are avoidable with some preventative measures and consistent focus on the health and strength of the lower extremities. Individuals who spend hours each...
Obtaining lean and defined calves and thighs is possible through consistent aerobic exercises and exercises that target each area. In addition to making you look toned and healthy, strong calves and thighs give you greater endurance when walking,...
Knee arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the knee wears down, causing the bones to rub against each other. Symptoms of knee arthritis include swelling, pain and an inability to fully extend or bend the knee. Doing exercises while in a...
Patellar tendinitis treatment tips and techniques can supplement the direct care one receives from a doctor, trainer or physical therapist. Learn how to treat sports injuries in this video on health and rehab.
