Fitness

Muscles in the stomach and waist area include the rectus abdominis, external obliques, internal obliques and transverse abdominis. They are more commonly known as the upper abs, obliques and lower abs. Exercises will tighten and firm the muscles. Cardio training…
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. The decrease in physical activity that often takes place as you age, creates…
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Coed softball is a slow-pitch variation game and is offered by local recreation departments, parks and companies. Unlike fast- and slow-pitch games that are played by just men or women, coed softball does not follow a uniform set of rules….
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Overview Weight loss can be quite a struggle for certain individuals. The most challenging aspect can be deciding what kind of exercise will generate the best results: cardiovascular training or strength training. Aerobic or cardio training has been a traditional…
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Learning to dribble is one of the most important skills a basketball player can learn. While the point guard will do the most dribbling on the team, all players have to know how to handle the ball or else they…
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Overview The newest Reebok step includes three pieces: a long, narrow stepping platform and two stair-like risers. Set the platform to 6 inches, 8 inches or 10 inches for a varied intensity, low-impact workout. The benefit to using this Reebok…
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Overview The goalie’s glove in hockey plays a primary role in the defense of the net. Many shots at the net–particularly those at high speeds–tend to lift off the ice and into the air. This makes it more difficult for…
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1. What’s a Slice A slicing of the golf ball happens because of too much clockwise rotation on a golf shot. This causes the golf ball to move left-to-right for right handed golfers and right-to-left for lefties. The slice usually…
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Most muscles cover bone. When you flex these muscles, a joint is moved. The abdominals, however, are a complex web of muscle that covers a cavity that contains your viscera. They help stabilize your body during movement, protecting your spine….
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Triathlon bikes have a tri geometry design with a steep tube angle (the center tube your seat is secured to) to put the rider in a forward position. This capitalizes on the use of quadriceps while riding, saving hamstrings for…
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Ocean kayaking can be a fun way to get out on the open water, get some exercise and even catch some fish. Like its whitewater counterpart, ocean kayaking requires certain skills and techniques in order to have fun and be…
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1. Get on the Ball Building those core muscle groups can go well by using an exercise ball for stability. When you build your core muscles, you strengthen your spine, improve your posture and help your organs work more efficiently….
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A calf muscle injury occurs when a muscle becomes overstretched and tears, according to Medline Plus. This can be caused by excessive physical activity, improper warm-up or poor flexibility. In addition, the Mayo Clinic states that acute strains can occur…
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1. Make a Gym Work for You When choosing a gym, you want to find the right fit for you. Check to make sure that the gym operates during the hours that you are most likely to work out. Take…
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The key to becoming an effective boxer is learning and executing the skills you need in the ring against an opponent. Keeping your wits about you when you absorb a hard punch may sound difficult, but the best fighters can…
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A pulled calf muscle, or calf muscle strain, is a common injury that can occur in anyone but is more common in athletes. A strain is the stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon. According to the Mayo Clinic,…
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1. Patience is a Virtue Base Stealing begins with patience. Do not attempt to steal the base until you gain a proper comfort level with the pitchers timing to the plate. To gain this comfort level, get a big enough…
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Having a flabby body can take a toll on your self-esteem. If you have excess flab in your stomach, you are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. A…
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The hip flexor muscles flex your hip joints, pulling your knees upward and bringing your legs and trunk toward each other. They are used during walking, running, kicking and many other activities. Hip flexor muscles include the iliopsoas, rectus femoris,…
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Overview Balance balls are training tools often used to build core strength. The core is the area between your shoulders and butt on the back of your body and the area from your lower chest to pelvis on the front…
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Overview Improve your running stamina, or your ability to maintain hard effort over a prolonged period with planned, detailed workouts and properly timed meals. Running pace is typically calculated in minutes per mile and improved by running at the desired…
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Overview Alpine, touring and Nordic skiing all are highly intense activities that produce body heat and perspiration, and wearing the appropriate clothing allows skiers to enjoyably remain active in all conditions. Layering, as it is called, is the most efficient…
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Overview The point guard is one of the most important positions on the basketball court. As the leader of a team’s offense, the point guard handles many different responsibilities, including ball handling, passing and knowing the team’s plays in order…
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Overview The squat exercise engages the quadriceps muscle group. One of your quadriceps muscles, the rectus femoris, originates on your pelvis before crossing your hip joint. The other quadriceps muscles, the vastus muscles, originate on your leg bone. All muscles…
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Tai chi is an ancient, self-paced and noncompetitive Chinese martial art. Tai chi, which incorporates gentle, flowing choreographed movements, focuses on developing aspects of your spiritual and mental self, although many people practice tai chi for health reasons too. According…
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Your hamstrings are the group of muscles in the back of your upper legs. The three muscles within this group are the semiteninosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris. These muscles work to bend your knee and extend your hip. Injury can…
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1. Like the Monkey Bars Remember the monkey bars? When you went across them, did your feet dangle or did you bring your legs up so they wouldn’t touch the ground? The hanging knee raise is similar to the monkey…
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Back pain is one of the most common types of pain experienced by Americans today. Leg and back pain can be experienced together, or alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, leg pain is often referred from pressure…
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The large exercise ball was introduced as a means to add a stability challenge to a normal exercise move. Balls come in sizes from 55 cm to 65 cm and are reasonably priced compared with other specialized fitness equipment. Designed…
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Achieving that six-pack can be a tough goal to accomplish. One of the most difficult parts about securing that goal includes firming the lower abdominals, says the Ask the Trainer website. However, by incorporating exercises, such as bicycle crunches and…
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