Robert Donatelli in an article for SportsMD website. The core stabilizes the legs and mobilizes bones, allowing movement. A ballet dancer needs strong core muscles to perform lifts, stabilize the torso during leaps and facilita...
A typical one- to two-hour ballet class provides a full-body workout that can be an important part of your physical wellness program, regardless of your age and previous dance background. Although ballet is typically defined as...
Good turnout is one of the defining characteristics of ballet. A greater degree of turnout means better external rotation in the hip socket, leg and foot, which improves a dancer’s overall performance quality, according t...
A cartwheel gets its name from the motion that your body undergoes when you perform one. You make a full rotation from a standing position to an inverted one and back again as if you were affixed to a wheel. One of the fundamen...
An ankle fracture can put you in a cast for six weeks, and if surgery is necessary, you may be healing for two to three months. Rehabilitation is an important part of healing. You must regain any lost range of motion as well a...
Ballet technique is extremely demanding physically, and dancers learn to identify and engage certain muscles as they work through a logical series of exercises at the ballet barre and in the center of the room. As a result of f...
Almost every muscle in the body is used in swimming the four basic strokes, crawl, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke. While swimming will develop muscles, developing muscles through additional training will help swimming p...
When you strengthen your heart muscle with the appropriate exercise, your heart gains exercise tolerance and endurance and improved resistance to high blood pressure. You will develop a better prospect for a healthy and long li...
This exercise is a tough one. Gripping a bar, you pull your entire body up so that your chin clears the bar without touching it, before lowering yourself again. If you can do chinups, you can keep doing them to build superlativ...
Your heart is a structure made up of cardiac muscle cells and several other specialized cell types, and it is responsible for pumping blood throughout your body. Heart failure is characterized by heart damage and progressive we...
An injured teres major muscle makes it difficult to pull objects toward you, close the trunk of your car or to do pull-down exercises in the gym. To strengthen the teres major after an injury, begin with flexibility exercises o...
Instability in this joint can lead to shoulder dislocation, which occurs when the humerus bone slips out of the shoulder socket. Those who have experienced a shoulder dislocation are at risk for repeat episodes of the problem. ...
When this nerve is compressed through a herniated disc or other physical injury, a person can experience sciatica, or sciatic pain. Sciatica can cause extreme pain, numbness, urinary or bowel issues, or muscle weakness. Strengt...
Your calves work in opposition with the shins to control the rate of movement when you dorsiflex and plantarflex, the opposite of dorsiflexion. Therefore, strengthening your dorsiflexion muscles should combine stretching your c...
Proponents of low-carb diets, also called low-carbohydrate or high-protein diets, believe that limiting carbohydrates provides multiple benefits, such as enhanced weight control and stronger, bulkier muscles. Although protein p...
However, infants gradually gain the ability to hold their heads in line with their shoulders during the first six months of life. Most babies don't need any special toys to help them strengthen their neck muscles, although a fe...
Muscle-strengthening activities are not just for adults. MayoClinic.com says “strength training can put your child on a lifetime path to better health and fitness.” Stronger muscles also help kids perform household ...
Before your baby is able to sit up, he'll start strengthening the shoulder and neck muscles that help him to sit. Your baby must have good head control and strong back and neck muscles to keep him upright. Once your baby reache...
A stationary bike is a common piece of cardio exercise equipment that provides benefits for people of all ages and fitness levels, since it is a low-impact workout offering variable resistance while being easy on your joints. T...
Not only does it support your pelvic organs, the PC muscle controls the flow of urine and supports the weight of a baby. Pregnancy and weight gain can weaken your PC muscle, but Kegel exercises strengthen it again. According to...
The main muscle targeted during a pullup is your latissimus dorsi, says ExRx.net. These the largest muscles in your back, and you rely on them to pull your entire body upward against gravity while hanging from a fixed bar.
Several exercises can target your major muscle groups, which include your legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders and arms. Before beginning your exercise activities, always warm up for five to 10 minutes. With these exerci...
According to the Bristol Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic, the injury commonly occurs after a forceful blow such as a sporting tackle or from an heavy impact such as a fall. Because stretched ligaments are often the cause...
To strengthen your knee joint, you must carefully strengthen the muscles surrounding your knees on both sides of the joint -- your quadriceps and hamstrings. The muscles of your lower leg will strengthen with regular walking. W...
Momentum should carry the legs back to the floor in the same order, while the gymnast lifts hands from floor accordingly. Cartwheels work several muscles; it's important to strengthen them for adequate performance.
The dumbbell fly is an isolation exercise for the chest. It only involves movement at the shoulder joint; your elbows remain stationary. This exercise isolates the chest muscles and reduces the involvement of your triceps. You ...
Peter Ullrich with Spine-Health. Nerve impingements to the L5 and S1 joints result in lower back pain and hindered functioning of your lower back area. Doing a variety of muscle strengthening exercises can lower pain levels whi...
Atrophy is a medical term that describes wasting of your body's tissues, and it usually involves a reduction in the size of your muscles, ligaments and other tissues. Atrophy of muscle tissue is more common and significant than...
Exercise helps diabetics by keeping glucose, blood pressure and triglycerides in check. The best muscle-strengthening exercises for you are ones that work major muscle groups and are done as a circuit -- moving quickly from on...
Heather Williams, a doctor of physical therapy at the Hospital for Special Surgery, notes that a stronger core can help prevent injuries to active children as well as enhance their sports performance and overall physical fitnes...
If you tend to have aches and pains from overuse injuries or everyday activities, use your diet to help strengthen your bones and muscles. Important nutrients include protein, potassium and calcium for muscle and bone cellular ...
It is normal to have some muscle imbalance. However, some types of imbalance can lead to longer-term patterns of discomfort or even pain. You can modify your workouts to address these problems. Strengthening and learning to mov...
If your baby's neck muscles seem lacking in strength, simple exercises can help strengthen them. Working with your baby on these exercises not only benefits his muscle tone but also brings you close together, enhancing mother-...
Sprinting demands a lot from your muscles. While endurance exercises rely on your muscles being conditioned well enough to last long distances, sprinting tests the strength of these muscles on how quickly you can move around a ...
Many muscles contribute to your ability to achieve and maintain an arabesque, including the muscles of your back. While specifically training these muscles makes you stronger, nothing takes the place of consistently practicing ...
In full contact sports such as wrestling, football, boxing and hockey, the neck muscles must be able to absorb violent impacts to minimize the risk of damage to the cervical vertebra. While you can strengthen your neck muscles ...
The muscle moves your thumb away from your hand, known as abduction, and plays an assistive role in bending your thumb and moving it across your palm. Carpal tunnel and general conditioning exercises to strengthen the abductor ...
A sore back can be the result of weakened muscles that must be strengthened. The muscles that support your core and spine play a key role in the health of your back. The abdominals, obliques and spinal erectors support your bac...
Your training program is designed to maximize your fitness level, but your individual goals might include strengthening the dimples in your muscles. Dimples are generally characterized by small indentations in the skin, but dim...
Dunking a basketball is perhaps the most difficult feat on a basketball court. While professional players make this look easy, they require high levels of athleticism and coordination to pull off this difficult task. If you abl...
Eating oatmeal can help power up both your aerobic and resistance training workouts. The high fiber food doesn't increase muscle strength or mass in and of itself but consuming oats can give you ample energy for intense muscle ...
The devices stimulate muscles by using an electric current. The electric current causes muscle contractions and when used regularly, strengthens the muscle. Electric stimulation can be used to prevent muscle atrophy, improve he...
Before performing these exercises, warm up for 10 minutes by doing a moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Choose weights that are heavy enough to tire your muscles after one set of repetitions. The last repetition should alw...
Although resistance training, or weightlifting, alone can help you build strength, you may be able to enhance your results by using certain herbal supplements and vitamins. Though the origins of these herbs and the mechanisms b...
They also stabilize your shoulders when you perform various movement patterns, such as throwing, pushing and pulling. Since this muscle group is interconnected with other body parts by nerves and tissues, the National Academy o...
Yoga is an ancient discipline involving a range of movements, stretches and poses that help center the mind and body while strengthening your muscles. While yoga might not look like intense exercise, the strength built through ...
Muscle mass decreases with age; when this occurs, the lost muscle is replaced with fat, resulting in weight gain. Strength training, even as little as 15 minutes daily, will help you preserve and increase muscle in the body. Th...
Muscle burns more calories than fat, so having more of it can help you control your weight. You don't have to spend hours working out to benefit from strength training. Strength training performed just two days a week can help...
As people age, they may experience mobility and balance problems. These problems can lead to falls that cause serious injuries. A regular training program that strengthens certain muscles may prevent falls. It may also give peo...
Advanced stages may require corrective orthopedic surgery that realigns your big toe. Exercises for splayfoot concentrate on strengthening your calf muscles and restoring strength -- plus flexibility in your toes, ankles and fo...
The T6 vertebra is in the thoracic, or middle, part of your spine. Twelve vertebrae make up the thoracic spine; they are numbered from the top down. The muscles that connect to the T6 vertebra are the spinalis, a lower back mus...
If you have various levels of muscle tone in your body, spend more time strength-training your underdeveloped muscles. While concentrating on strengthening this group of muscles, however, do not neglect your better-developed mu...
Hanging on a pullup bar helps you increase your muscular strength, especially if you are not yet able to complete a pullup. The muscles strengthened while hanging on the bar depend on whether you are hanging with your arms stra...
She sleeps on her back. She is on her back in her car seat during travel. She is on her back for changing, dressing and most playing. To strengthen your baby's scapular muscles, place your baby on her tummy for 90 minutes a day...
Your abdominal muscles are part of the core that helps you control movement and maintain your center of gravity and alignment as you move. To improve abdominal stability and strength, there are some simple tools you can use to ...
Older women should strive to preserve their skeletal muscle mass and strength, which declines with age and increases the risk of injury. Healthy diet and exercise are believed to be necessary to slow the average loss of muscle,...
When planning a diet to help strengthen your muscles, it is important to remember that concentrating on a few specific foods while ignoring all others can be harmful to your health. Rather, you should design a diet that contain...
Strengthening the muscles in and around your mouth will improve your ability to speak. If you or your child are having speech difficulties, always see a doctor to rule out any chronic disorders before beginning oral exercises. ...
The muscle attaches to the top, front portion of the femur, or thigh bone, on top and to your knee via the quadriceps tendon on the bottom. Along with the other three quadriceps muscles, the vastus medialis extends your knee, o...
They generate strength and power in various movement patterns and activities, like squatting, running and jumping. The National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends that you strengthen your buttocks by incorporating them with ...
Compound leg exercises such as squats and lunges can place stress on your hips and knees. Isolated exercises allow you to target specific areas of your leg muscles to develop strength while reducing the amount of stress on your...
Pregnancy, childbirth, age, obesity and other causes may weaken these muscles, resulting in urinary incontinence when coughing, laughing, jogging and sneezing. To strengthen these muscles, the University of Wisconsin recommends...
When you are slouching in a chair and consciously sit up straighter -- that's your erector spinae muscles at work. Attached at the ribs and the spinal processes, these muscles run up both sides of your spine and are responsible...
Pronation is a movement of the foot and ankle to absorb shock and load the muscles of propulsion. While necessary, too much pronation has been associated with increased risk of a number of musculoskeletal injuries including ach...
What is less known is that arch size is not a static measurement -- the degree of your arch can fluctuate depending on how much stress you place on the foot, as well as to what degree you use your foot's muscles.
What I didn't anticipate was using muscles that aren't typically called upon in my sedentary lifestyle as a writer. After the first week of aches and pains, my instructor recommended some simple exercises I could do at home to ...
Walking is classified as cardiovascular exercise because it is a dynamic, large-muscle group movement that you perform for an extended period of time. The muscles used in walking include your legs, glutes and even your core mus...
The diaphragm is a broad muscle below your ribcage and above your pelvic floor muscles. It works with your obliques, transversus abdominus and ribcage to expand and contract your belly when you do abdominal breathing. People te...
Both sides of the tibia have thin strips of muscle called the anterior and posterior tibialis. The anterior part is on the front and the posterior part is on the back. The way to strengthen these muscles is by doing exercises t...
Sphincter muscles are found throughout the human body, including sphincters found in the male and female pelvic area. A sphincter muscle is a circular muscle that surrounds another structure in the body, such as the male and fe...
Your body relies on leg strength for just about every activity from running and hiking to basic walking or even standing upright. However, over time your leg muscles can be replaced with fat as part of the natural aging process...
The veteran snowboarders make snowboarding look easy as they carve through varying terrain and go off jumps. However, snowboarding takes a tremendous amount of skill, balance and strong muscles. According to Aspen Post, "The ...
These three muscles, peroneus brevis, longus and teritus, extend from your fibula and insert into your tendons in your midfoot and toes. They work together with the muscles in your lower leg and foot to flex, extend and rotate ...
The muscles originating on the scapula are small relative to other upper body muscles. These muscles include the rotator cuff, teres major and coracobrachialis. Because they are not as visible nor are they the primary movers, t...
Strengthening your pectineus muscles helps you become a faster walker, runner and sprinter. Though it is a small muscle, the pectineus flexes your hip to bring your thighs forward as you walk, run or sprint. Training this muscl...
This happens when your posterior tibial tendon weakens or is exposed to injury. You may not be able to raise the falling arches, but performing several different exercises can help strengthen the muscles in your feet and improv...
This group of muscles is often referred to as the pelvic floor muscles, which surround the vagina. A type of exercise discovered by Dr. Arnold Kegel may be effective at strengthening the uterine muscles. Kegel exercises simply ...
When you improve your balance strength, you improve your walking ability. These improvements are made through strength training exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home. Perform strength training every other day so ...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, besides aerobic exercise that targets your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, you should also do at least two muscle-strengthening exercises every week. Weight t...
Strengthening muscles isn't just for athletes and bodybuilders; it's a recommended part of any fitness program, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends at least two days a week of strengt...
Ligaments connect bones to bones and tendons connect muscles to bones. Keeping the ligaments, tendons and muscles strong is important for injury prevention during sport performance and daily activities. Exercises help strengthe...
Climbing stairs can help you to improve your cardiovascular ability, along with strengthening the muscles in your lower body. The vertical movement involved with climbing stairs uses gravity as resistance. As a result, your qua...
The outer muscles of the gluteus complex primarily produces force while the deeper layers of muscles stabilizes your pelvis to keep it in alignment. To strengthen your gluteus muscles, you must incorporate them with other body ...
Gain strength in your forearm muscles by using a combination of resistance training movements. Using both free weights and machines helps you develop muscular endurance and overall power in your forearms. Stronger forearms help...
The pectoral muscles are made up of the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, which function as one large muscle. Strengthening the outside pectoral muscles requires exercises that target the portion of the chest that extends ...
Strength in your ring finger muscles can be significantly weaker than your index and middle because everyday tasks, such as writing with a pencil, typically keep these muscles more active. The pinch grip exercise can be utilize...
If you are experiencing muscle weakness or loss of function and mobility in your arms, legs or back, your doctor may suggest you see a physical therapist. Conditions like arthritis, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis ma...
If you are a tennis player, you probably understand the need to strengthen elbow muscles. Tennis elbow is a common injury that occurs due to overuse. Microscopic tears in the muscles that control your ability to bend, straighte...
Some may argue that cycling works every muscle in the body, but one look at the muscle development of a cyclist who has been at his sport for any length of time reveals it to be a predominantly lower body sport. Although the up...
The shoulders are one of the most important muscle groups to train, because they assist other muscles in many upper and lower-body exercises. Without strong shoulders, your progress in exercises such as the bench press can be h...
Baseball uses just about every upper-body muscle, no matter how small or insignificant it may be to other activities. The teres major and teres minor muscles are no exception. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, the teres mi...
The muscles that control jumping include the thighs, buttocks and calves. The core muscles also play a role in keeping the spine stable as you propel yourself upward. The best way to strengthen the jumping muscles is to do move...
Your shoulder joint allows your arm to move or hold still. The periscapular muscles lend strength to your shoulder during movements and help stabilize your shoulder when still. The scapula, your shoulder blade, also moves durin...
Exercises to define and strengthen male pectoral muscles will develop your upper body strength by increasing muscle mass in your pecs and shoulders. While basic weightlifting exercises will help you build muscle, toning using l...
Training them can help you to get bigger and stronger, and improve your posture. Weak scapular muscles and tight chest muscles are often a cause of upper crossed syndrome, or hunchback posture, which can lead to upper back pain...
The biceps are located in the front of your upper arm, and allows you to lift and curl your arm as well as protonate your wrist. The triceps muscle extends along the back of your upper arm and is responsible for straightening y...
The quadriceps, or muscles on the front of your thigh, work to extend your knee. These muscles function every time you straighten your legs, from running to jumping to squatting. Strong legs help maintain healthy knee joints an...
It is imperative to include a strength and conditioning program for a pitcher to have prolonged success in baseball. A good strength and conditioning program can help a pitcher have better endurance for both single game perform...
Excessive loading is caused by weight lifting or exercises that apply force to joints and muscle. The body repairs the muscle fiber, but in the process it becomes slightly larger in diameter which allows it to withstand heavier...
Physical activity has long been used as a way of improving the tone and strength of muscle. But when it comes to exercise, most people only think about the muscles of the legs, arms and abdominals. Other muscles also benefit fr...
Weightbearing exercises have important benefits for your body, including strengthening muscles and increasing bone mass. Weightbearing means that you are supporting your own body weight. According to the National Osteoporosis F...
The hip and thigh muscles function both as muscles of locomotion and as part of the core because they support the weight of your upper body. Several gym exercises can strengthen the hip and thigh, but Pilates exercises are spec...
After strength training or daily activity, your muscles need nutrients to repair damage to the muscle tissue. People often think protein is the only option for muscle repair, but in reality fruits are a healthy and low fat opti...
The primary muscles involved are the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor. These muscles attach to the bone of your upper arm, run across your chest and attach to the bone in the center of your chest and your ribs. These m...
High in a variety of vitamins and minerals, milk plays a number of roles in the body related to developing and maintaining tissues. With its high phosphorous, vitamin B12, riboflavin and protein content, milk can be a good addi...
Other muscles in the torso, such as the transversus abdominis and internal obliques, act locally on the spine because they insert on the vertebrae. Exercises that flex, twist and stabilize the spine strengthen these muscles.
The muscles that flex your toes are located primarily in the arch area of your foot. The muscles that extend your toes are located primarily in the shin. You also have tiny muscles between the toe bones that control fine moveme...
The psoas and the iliacus, commonly referred to as the hip flexor muscles, make up a major muscle group and are considered to be important to a wide range of functions in athletics. Exercises designed to develop strength in the...
Your thighs consist of all the muscles that are connected to your lower leg, hip and torso by connective tissues, nerves and blood vessels. These muscles include your hamstrings, quadriceps, parts of the hip flexors and the add...
The term thunder thighs might bring the connotation of strong leg muscles. However, the real definition is quite the opposite. If you find yourself fighting a pair of thunder thighs then consider switching to a healthy diet as ...
Regular physical activity plays the biggest role in strengthening heart muscles -- and people who are inactive are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as people who are physically active. Consult your doctor before mak...
Movers are the muscles that are near the surface of your body and move your joints in different directions. They both constantly work together to produce force, absorb shock, and minimize your risk of injuries when you move. Th...
The muscle is part of your temporomandibular joint functioning -- it's located on the side of your head near your temples, and it can be felt working by placing your hand over your temple while clenching and unclenching your ja...
Many factors can contribute to pelvic floor weakening, such as being overweight, pregnancy and childbirth. A weak pelvic floor can lead to urinary incontinence or even pelvic organ prolapse, when organs fall out of their proper...
Research conducted by Janne Sallinen, appearing in the September 2010 "Journal of the American Geriatric Society," determined that hand-grip strength was helpful in determining risk for limited daily mobility. Limited daily mob...
Unless you injure your shins, you may not think about your medial tibial muscles. Shin splints are considered a medial tibial stress syndrome. Your medial muscles are located on the side of your lower shin closest to the opposi...
The abdominal muscles include the rectus abdominis in front, the transversus abdominis, which wraps around your abdomen from deep within, and the external and internal obliques, which span the sides of your abdomen. Although ma...
They work together with other leg and hip muscles to flex and extend your foot at the ankle joint, to produce force when you move, such as running and walking, and to control directional changes during a run, according to the N...
The upper thigh area is a common trouble spot for many people. Cardiovascular activities such as climbing stairs, running, walking and swimming can help you tone and strengthen your legs. In addition, performing specific streng...
Weak pelvic muscles not only promote poor posture and performance, such as a forward-tilted pelvis or the inability to squat, but they also reduce your ability to control your bowel movements. Therefore, strengthening your pelv...
The squat is one of the best exercises to help strengthen the muscles above the knee as well as targeting your hips, buttocks, hamstrings and strengthening bones, ligaments and tendons in the lower body. Performing a front squa...
There are several components to improving your strength in tennis. Resistance training can strengthen your upper body muscles for a more powerful racquet swing, and you also should incorporate stretching and cardiovascular exer...
Methods to control symptoms include shoe inserts and arch supports. Corrective surgery may be considered for more severe cases. However, in some it may be useful to strengthen the foot arch by doing targeted exercises.
While any type of physical activity approved by your doctor benefits your condition, aerobic workouts --- sometimes called cardiovascular exercise --- represent the most effective method to strengthen your heart muscles. Aerobi...
These actions make the rhomboids a necessary part of maintaining good posture. By performing exercises for the rhomboid muscles, you can reduce muscular tension in the upper back. Perform the exercises every other day to give y...
They also help in properly emptying your bladder and bowel and, in men, can enhance the duration of an erection. Prostate surgery, diabetes and lack of exercise are among some of the reasons you may be experiencing weakness in ...
During your pregnancy, you may have limited the amount of time exercising. After childbirth, it's time to regain strength in your buttocks and pelvic floor muscles. Before you exercise to rebuild strength and endurance, you'll ...
By strengthening and toning your core while exercising regularly and eating healthy foods in moderation, you will lose belly fat and build strong, firm abdominal muscles. These core muscles will help support your body, improve ...
High-impact sports, such as football, can put your neck in harm's way when you make tackles, get tackled and throw blocks. Your best course of action to prevent injury is to thicken your neck muscles with the right exercises. T...
Workout regimens usually focus on weight loss or building muscle mass in the limbs. However, facial muscle tone shouldn't be overlooked. Toned jaw muscles help tighten your facial skin and define the jawline. Your jaw muscles a...
As a swimmer, you require a great amount of muscular strength and endurance in order to perform in the water. Swimming is an all-over body exercise, therefore weight training the major muscles of your body will help you have mo...
Chondromalacia patella can occur for various reasons including misalignment of the knee, tight thigh muscles, weak thigh muscles, overuse, sudden increases in training, high-impact activities and flat feet. Since weak thigh mus...
In addition to resistance training, diet plays an important role in strengthening the muscles for a healthy body. A muscle-strengthening healthy diet should be composed of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Protei...
Your paraspinal muscles run next to your spine to support it. You have numerous small, individual paraspinal muscles that help control movements between your vertebrae and the rest of your bones. Strengthening your paraspinal m...
While a 58-year-old woman can build cardiovascular fitness through moderate aerobic exercise, strength training provide a different type of fitness. As people age, they gradually lose muscle mass. They require fewer calories to...
Lifting your legs against the force of gravity while lying on your back, front or side helps strengthen the muscles that surround and act on your hip joints. Learning about these muscles can help you determine how to incorporat...
Injuries to the ACL, which runs from your shin bone up to your thigh bone, are common. Once you regain your range of motion following an ACL injury it's important to strengthen the muscles around your knee to help prevent subse...
Although most major sports involve plenty of movements that originate from the core and work the abs, there are a few activities that stand out as the most effective for strengthening and building tummy muscles.
Although it can be embarrassing and unpleasant, fecal incontinence is far from uncommon; the American College of Gastroenterologists reports that 5.5 million Americans have the condition at any given time. Exercises to strength...
Exercises for controlling urinary urgency are designed to help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, improving your bowel control and reducing your frequency of urinary urgency. According to MayoClinic.com, performing Kegel...
Goal setting can be a helpful approach to gaining muscle strength before beginning a rehabilitation program. By clearly defining functional limitations, an effective strengthening program can be successfully designed and executed.
Your quadriceps muscles are the four muscles that work the front of your thigh and are responsible for extending the leg at the knee. Developing these muscles help to give you added leg strength, helping you better lift heavy o...
Strong, toned abdominal muscles improve your appearance, posture and movement quality, and protect your lower back muscles from injury. Efficient abdominal workouts require perseverance, along with meticulous form and a keen at...
Also known as "traps," your trapezius rotate, retract and elevate your scapula, or shoulder blades, and extend your neck. Well-developed traps give your shoulders a powerful look, and you can strengthen your trapezius with diff...
Three separate muscles make up your buttocks: the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus is the largest, most visible of the three buttock muscles. The gluteus medius is a smaller muscl...
Strong and flexible hip abductors help you to avoid injury while playing sports or working out. The hip abductors can be strengthened with free weights, your own body weight or with specialized machines designed specifically fo...
Strengthening the psoas muscle, which crosses the hip joint from your lower spine to your inner thigh, requires performing resistance exercises through hip or spine flexion on a consistent basis. Add resistance progressively ov...
When choosing exercises for your calf muscles, you should be working out the three major muscles of the calves: the gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior. The gastrocnemius is a large muscle located on the back of your ca...
Facial exercises can help strengthen muscles in the jaw, cheeks, lips and tongue. These exercises can be beneficial for people who have trouble with speech, swallowing or other facial muscle weaknesses. Performing exercises tha...
Because toddlers spend more time walking, standing and taking advantage of their newfound mobility, the muscles in the lower body naturally get plenty of chances to grow stronger. You can encourage upper body development by pro...
The posterior tibialis is on the back of your calf from the bottom of the back side of your knee to the middle of your calf. Consult your doctor before doing new exercises to strengthen these muscles.
In contrast with slow-twitch muscles, which are used during aerobic exercise, fast-twitch muscles contract quickly and contribute to explosive, powerful movements. Strengthening your fast-twitch muscles will build your speed, p...
As our bodies age, we lose muscle mass. Two to three sessions of muscle training per week is enough to reverse this progression and keep, or even gain muscle mass. It is never to late to start , so even if you have never done s...
Atrophy occurs in your muscles when they are not used for a prolonged period of time. Causes include sedentary lifestyles, injuries or extended immobilizations. Maintaining strength and lean muscle mass can help to improve your...
Strong pectoral muscles, or the muscles of the chest, are part of a well-developed physique. Contrary to popular belief, strengthening your chest will not decrease your breast size unless you also lose a significant amount of b...
While you can emulate turnout by manipulating your knees and ankles, perfect turnout requires a combination of stretching and strengthening the muscles that rotate your hip joint.
They work together to internally and externally rotate the hip joints and to move your legs away and toward the center of your body. Combine isolated exercises with full-body movements to strengthen the hip rotator muscles.
Meal plans containing a balance of lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats strengthen and build calorie-burning muscles. Every individual has specific caloric needs determined by age, height and activity level. Con...
According to the Throat Problems website, your throat muscles are essential for swallowing, breathing and speaking. Strengthening them may even help you snore less. But, just like any other muscle in your body, they need to be ...
The infraspinatus originates in the large flat part of the of the scapula, just below the spine of the scapula, and inserts on the posterior aspect of the head of the humerus. The muscle is responsible for lateral rotation of t...
If the outer quadriceps are stronger than the lower quads, this can lead to a knee injury. An imbalance of strength among your quad muscles also affects the look and shape of your upper legs.
The sartorius -- the longest muscle in the human body -- is a thin muscle that originates on the anterior iliac spine at the front of the hip, and inserts at the top of the tibia on the medial side, just below the knee. It has ...
Hips are often an afterthought by most people when constructing a resistance workout. Adding a handful of hip exercises to your workouts will strengthen your hip muscles and enhance your performance in a variety of activities.
The gastrocnemius is a large muscle that lies on top of the soleus. Both are responsible for plantar flexion at the ankle, or pressing your toes toward the ground. Strong calves make it easier to run uphill, climb stairs or lif...
Simple exercises can train your calf muscles, but it can sometimes be a challenge to build them to the size and strength that you want. The calf is made up of two muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemius is ...
Whether you want stronger muscles or better muscle definition, muscle strengthening can be a result of many different kinds of workouts. When choosing what workout you'll do, choose something that you think you'll enjoy; better...
The subtlety of core exercise should not be misinterpreted as ineffectiveness.
Weak buccinator muscles can cause difficulty eating, according to "The Principles of Anatomy and Physiology," and may also make the cheeks appear saggy. Cheek exercises, as recommended by Cynthia Rowland, author of "The Magic o...
The Centers for Disease Control recommend strengthen-training exercises as least twice a week. Resistance training is the foundation of improving muscle strength and uses weights or other resistance methods to overload muscles....
Loss of muscle strength usually occurs after abnormal muscle use. The University of Massachusetts states that strength gradually returns, but even as long as 10 days later, a deficit remains. It cites several studies that concl...
Diet and aerobic exercise is an effective way to lose weight and live healthier, however the best way to strengthen your leg and hip muscles is to use exercises that target these muscles.
The abdominal wall muscles are part of the core section and MayoClinic.com calls the core vital to any fitness program. Core muscles, the group that support the truck and pelvis, work to maintain balance. They make you stronger...
Sticking to the basics of following a healthy diet and keeping up with daily exercise promotes overall health, as well as the vitality of skin and muscles, including the face. Further, specific daily face exercises keep facial ...
Isolating your inner thighs as part of your workout can prove challenging and is often neglected. Adding some exercises to your routine will help you strengthen your inner quads and balance out the muscles in your legs.
While practically anyone can keep their quadriceps in shape by walking up a few flights of stairs, some exercises offer a more targeted approach to strengthening the quadriceps.
It is called the tricep muscle because there are three "heads" to the muscle. This muscle involves the extension of your elbow, so pushing yourself up and away from the arms of the chair you're sitting on will work your trice...
An inguinal hernia can be noticed as a pain or bump in your groin area. Surgery is usually the treatment, and sometimes the weak area is repaired with a steel mesh or wire to add support. After you recover from surgery, it's im...
Originating from a training philosophy called the Lotte Berk Method, the companies Fluidity and The Bar Method, have developed methods and products for strengthening and lengthening muscles while changing your overall body shap...
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, brain cells begin to die and death can follow. Stroke survivors face serious disabilities, including the inability to walk and perform normal activities requiring the use of muscles. Physic...
According to Walker's Warehouse, rocker-sole shoes are made to be unstable, meaning they are not flat on the sole. This style is designed to challenge the muscles of the leg and core to stabilize the body, thus in turn strength...
Stronger pubococcygeus or PC muscles, aren't typically muscles you think about strengthening, but the benefits of a strong pelvic floor are many. The UCLA department of Urology points out that strengthening your pelvic floor mu...
These machine increase the muscle activity in your body as you exercise on them, a study reported in the July 2010 of the "Journal of Strength Conditioning Research" noted. Exercising on a vibration machine may also give you a ...
They parallel another muscle group known as the erector spinae, and if these muscles are weak, you can subject yourself to back pain. Utilize the weight of your body and a couple of fitness tools to strengthen these muscles.
The sartorius assists other muscles with hip abduction, flexion and outward rotation. Strengthen the sartorius muscle by performing resistance exercises through various ranges of motion.
Internal and external devices physically block urine from flowing out of the bladder or leaking outside the body. Nerve stimulation devices strengthen the muscles that control urination to reduce leaking.
Significant rehabilitation of the knee musculature is necessary to recover full strength, range of motion and function. The 2007 textbook "Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques, 5th Edition" recommends that you perfo...
It also allows you to focus on your kick technique while strengthening your leg muscles. Most swimming facilities have kickboards available, though you can purchase one to have at your disposal if you regularly t
For women, the pubococcygeus muscle also supports the uterus. This muscle is also known as the pelvic floor muscle.
Strengthening the PC muscle can help combat urinary and fecal incontinence in both men and women. According ...
NBA player Shaquille O'Neil struggled with a groin injury in 1999. According to a National Strength and Conditioning Association article by physical therapist Jason Brumitt, hip adductor weaknesses make a hockey player 17 time...
The human elbow does not contain any muscles of its own but controls the use of muscles in the hand, forearm and upper arm, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Tendons and ligaments form the tissue that h...
These muscles, which include the supraspinatous, infraspinatous, teres minor and subscapularis muscles, help the shoulder rotate inward, upward and outward. You can do a variation of simple exercises to strengthen your rotator ...
If you are currently experiencing pain in your buttocks, see your physician for treatment. Your muscles are not in a condition to start an exercise regimen. Once the pain has resolved, you can strengthen your piriformis muscles...
The piriformis is a small but important muscle found in the area of the buttocks. Whenever you rotate your leg outward, you engage your piriformis muscle. Strengthening this muscle improves leg strength and balance. It is also ...
Strengthening the pelvic muscles benefits women and men. Pelvic exercises, often referred to as Kegel exercises, are most often associated with women looking to improve bladder control after having a baby. Men can use pelvic mu...
Arnold Kegel. Although first used as a way to control incontinence after childbirth, Kegels can be successfully used to treat sexual problems in men as well. The exercises work by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. The fir...
Together, these muscles are often referred to as the iliopsoas. As the name implies, the hip flexors "flex" the hip. This is a motion that causes your thigh to move toward your belly. To strengthen the hip flexors, you need to ...
If you have severe gait abnormalities, such as dragging your toes, you should consult a medical or rehabilitative professional; these symptoms may indicate problems beyond a weak tibialis anterior. But if you’ve been dire...
The pelvic floor muscles help to control both the bladder and the rectum. When these muscles are weakened, exercises called Kegels can be performed to improve the strength and improve bladder and rectum control. Both men and wo...
The condition, which involves the involuntary release of small or large amounts of urine, occurs when the muscles responsible for holding urine do not function correctly. In 1948, Dr. Arnold Kegel, a medical doctor, developed a...
This pain is partially related to a weak trapezius. The trapezius originates at the base of your skull and extends out toward your shoulders and mid-way down your spine. It functions to lift your shoulders as well as extend you...
