Fitness

According to the Mayo Clinic, Pilates exercise tones and strengthens the body through low impact movements focused on breathing control and mind-body connection. Pilates offers a variety of exercise options and is touted as having benefits for managing low back…
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Overview Glutamine is a naturally occurring substance in the body that performs several vital functions in the body. While healthy individuals produce enough glutamine on their own, certain people may look toward supplements to increase their intake. The most common…
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The pectoral muscles are located on your chest and include the pectoralis major and minor. The pectoralis major helps move your shoulder joint through numerous ranges of motion, and the pectoralis minor draws the scapula bones on either side of…
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Overview Use resistance bands to build muscular strength and endurance without bulky weights or machines. Resistance bands offer resistance by stretching, much like a rubber band. Incorporate resistance bands into your fitness regimen at home or at the gym. Types…
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Exercises to stretch and elongate the muscles of your back reduce tension and increase flexibility. By doing exercises that work to stretch your back, the muscles must lengthen and relax to allow for a stretch. You might not grow several…
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In addition to flexing your spine forward, your abdominals also contract to create intra-abdominal pressure in a maneuver called bracing. Your core muscles, which consist of your rectus abdominus, obliques, transverse abdominus and erector spinea, draw in and around your…
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Yoga DVDs can be a good supplement to a fitness program if you can’t make it to a class or studio as frequently as you’d like to practice. A good yoga DVD can also be an alternative way to try…
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The internal and external oblique muscles comprise the sides of the abdomen. These muscles assist with flexing the spine forward, flexing the spine laterally, or sideways, and rotating the torso in both directions, explains Dr. Susan Hall, author of the…
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Your knees are a synovial hinge joint consisting of your tibia, femur and patella bones and are capable of flexion, extension and moderate rotation when bent. The knee joint is held together by the cruciate and collateral ligaments, and the…
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According to the National Institute on Aging, endurance exercises are activities that elevate your heart rate and breathing for a prolonged period of time. Endurance exercises help you walk farther, faster or up steep terrain. They also make your activities…
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Flattening your tummy doesn’t have to be the most difficult thing in the world. According to the National Federation of Personal Trainers “Personal Trainers Manual,” the most effective way to flatten your tummy and expose your abdominal muscles is through…
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The Bowflex Ultimate home gym comes with 310 pounds of resistance from power rods, and can be increased to 410 pounds with an additional pair of 50-pound power rods. Each power rod is marked with its weight rating on top…
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Lumbar spondylosis is widely associated with the aging process. As people get older, the composition of the discs in their lower back changes and tends to degenerate. Some of the problems associated with lower back spondylosis include bulging discs, bony…
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Overview The Ab Chair Deluxe is a fitness machine designed for use in a series of exercises that target the abdominal muscles. The device features a hinge where the seat and back support meet, which allows the user to fully…
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You mid back is made up of your middle trapezius and rhomboid muscles, responsible for drawing your shoulder blades back in a movement called retraction. The muscles of the mid back are important for helping you maintain an upright posture…
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The push-up is an exercise that works the chest, or pectoral, muscles; the deltoids, or shoulders; and triceps. Variations on the push-up can focus more emphasis on the different muscles involved. One of those variations is the diamond push-up. The…
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Sixty-six percent of adults in America are overweight or obese, according to the National Institutes of Health. While it is generally advised that 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day will help you stay healthy, a lot more is needed…
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Television and the Internet are full of infomercials about the latest, greatest piece of equipment designed to give you a toned, sculpted midsection. While no equipment is strictly necessary to get ripped abs, the question remains: Is any of that…
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Overview A boxer’s diet is of crucial importance. Before competing in a boxing match fighters are asked to meet stringent weight limits. Diet is an important factor in weight management. The nutritional diet of a boxer will also have a…
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Swiss or stability balls, first introduced by a Swiss doctor in the 1960s, have became a popular fitness tool. Swiss balls can help to relieve back pain and prevent future episodes, reports chiropractor Thomas E. Hyde in June 29, 2001…
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If your current fitness regimen is getting stale, boxing training may be just what you need to add some fun and diversity to your program. Heavy bags are an important part of boxing and martial arts training because the bag…
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Overview Your lower back muscles are part of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, or LPHC, a group of muscles and connective tissues in the abdominals, back and hips that supports your posture and generates strength. Since all muscles in the core work…
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Develop neck and spine strength, flexibility and stability through exercise. Possessing these qualities will improve posture, prevent injury, lessen the severity of injury, should it occur, and improve productivity through greater coordination and functionality. Execute these exercises slowly with proper…
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Overview In recent years weight-room training has evolved. Weight rooms were once thought to be a place only for those trying to win body-building competitions. Now people young and old, male and female can be found in the weight room…
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Resistance bands provide a convenient, inexpensive and fun way to train. They’re an excellent choice for training on the go, as they’re light and take up little space. The use of resistance bands during chest workouts allows trainees to target…
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Overview Both Smooth Fitness and Sole offer a variety of folding and non-folding treadmills to choose from. Designed for use in home, hotel and light commercial settings, these treadmills represent a hefty investment that can pay hefty dividends, too, if…
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Overview The adage “practice makes perfect” is an accurate one, but when it comes to achieving the highest levels of athleticism, it doesn’t tell the entire story. Practicing your sport is vital, but preparing yourself for optimal performance requires a…
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Originally a military training program, boot camp now indicates an intense exercise program. Boot camp classes challenge every muscle group and energy system in your body. In a motivating group environment, these programs use body weight and calisthenics for a…
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Overview The Bowflex Xtreme 2 features 210 pounds of resistance from Power Rod technology and can be upgraded to either 310 pounds or 410 pounds of resistance without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights….
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As any skilled martial artist or boxer will tell you, a powerful punch or strike involves the entire body. Whether you want to hone your punching speed to be able to deliver more blows per minute, or fine-tune your upper…
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