Since its inception into the world of fitness, the stability ball has steadily grown in usage and popularity. Its versatility is beneficial for the novice to the advanced. The evolution of the ball has reached the point where not only are classes...
A stability ball gets its name from the unbalanced nature that your body is in when you are using it. Being that you are off balance, you are forced to contract your core muscles to stabilize your body. Stability ball training exercises can be...
The stability ball has a long history in clinical rehabilitation. Because of the success trainers have had using the ball to rehabilitate injuries and improve the core strength and stability of individuals, stability balls are now popular among...
The core is the collective term used to describe your abdominal muscles, waist and lower back -- in essence, your entire midsection. These muscles work independently to control the movements of your spine or together to create intra-abdominal...
Abdominal exercises and, to a lesser extent, back muscle exercises are a common sight in gyms and in instructions for home workout programs. These sometimes include the suggestion to use a stability ball to build core strength. This is more than...
A stability ball is often used to replace a bench for weight training to challenge your balance when doing various exercises. Using the stability ball will improve functional strength and actively engage the muscles of the core when you're...
You can use a stability ball to exercise most muscles in the body but the most common and popular exercises using a stability ball are for the abdominal muscles. Correctly called the rectus abdominus and located on the front of your midsection,...
Stability balls are inexpensive, versatile pieces of fitness equipment. Strength-training stability ball exercise allows you to tone and condition every part of your body. To reap the benefits of this type of exercise, choose the right ball and...
Exercising with a stability ball has an additional fitness benefit from doing the same exercises without a ball, according to the Shape Fit website. When using a stability ball as your exercise base, you engage more muscle groups to stabilize your...
Stability balls challenge your core muscles to keep your body steady against the ball’s inherent instability. Once used primarily in physical therapy clinics, stability balls have become widely popular as aids for sports training and general...
The broad term "circuit training" applies to any workout with quick shifts between multiple exercise stations, allowing little to no rest between stations. The exercise stations may consist of cardiovascular exercises, strength-training exercises...
Wave goodbye with your hands, not your triceps. It's possible with a cardio routine, general strength training and triceps exercises. For additional fitness benefits such as increased balance and core strength, add a stability ball to your...
Movement that requires explosive contractions is an integral part of most high-intensity sports. If you place these sports and want to move faster, your leg muscles must work effectively together to ensure you are jumping the highest your body...
The Internet, libraries and air waves are full of fitness advice that is supposedly geared toward helping you improve performance in record time. While some of these claims may be lofty and unrealistic, improving your jump quickly is attainable....
Many sports and daily activities --- such as golf, boxing and gardening --- require some degree of rotational power. This involves using stabilization strength to keep your body in alignment to avoid injury, and full-body mobility to move freely...
Lacrosse is a field sport that places a great demand on your body. Lacrosse requires good hand eye coordination and stick handling which can be gained through agility training. You must strength train because defensively you are required to block...
Jumping high is a staple of athletic performance and widely desired among professional and amateur athletes. However, it is not usually something that is actively practiced and worked on. Strengthening your legs to jump higher involves a complex...
Stability balls are a training tool that activates the core muscles during training. As you perform exercises on the ball, the core assists in balance and stability. Training the chest muscles with the use of a stability ball can provide you with...
The kegel exercise is the brainchild of a Southern University of California gynecologist, Dr. Arnold Kegel. In 1948, he developed the exercise to help women control postpartum urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises are designed to activate the...
If you enjoy your workout routine but want to complete the workout in the comfort of your own home, you can use a multigym. A multigym is designed with numerous features and accessories for a wide range of exercises, alleviating the need for free...
Before you go to the gym, plan your exercise routine so that you'll stay on track throughout your workout. Choose a routine that you enjoy, or regularly change it to help keep you from becoming bored. Whatever routine you choose, remember to...
The gym abounds with philosophies on how to gain muscle. Building muscle from your workout requires determination and the proper combination of nutrition and exercise routine. With the right combination, you can sculpt your body however you see fit.
Recovering from an injury can be difficult depending on the location of the injury. Ankle fractures are particularly debilitating because you lose the ability to do intensive cardiovascular exercise and to coordinate your legs in pressing, walking...
The kettlebell swing is the foundation of many more complex kettlebell exercises that require command of the swing before proper execution can take place. The swing can be used while developing power for sport, training for fat loss and improving...
Kettlebells are a very versatile piece of equipment that can be used by all fitness levels, and even pregnant women can incorporate them into their fitness plan. Fitness during pregnancy is important, but it is also necessary to listen to your...
The core muscles support postural alignment and stabilize the spine. Numerous research studies indicate a correlation between insufficient core muscle activation and back pain. A 1999 article published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and...
While fitness training can be specified to progress you toward any goal, each training exercise requires a slightly different approach. If your goal is speed or flexibility, you will have to train different than if your goal is strength or muscle...
The physio ball---also known as the Swiss ball, exercise ball or stability ball---is a diverse piece of fitness equipment that can be used for many different exercises. It is commonly used for abdominal exercise because it allows for greater range...
Exercise and strength training play an important part in bone health. Most people can experience bone growth through their 20s, after which the bones start thinning and losing mass. To avoid osteopenia or osteoporosis, you need to take advantage...
