Fitness

Overview Basketball is played with five members of each team on the court at the same time. Each player on a team of five plays a position. Certain skills are involved in playing a position effectively. There are also particular…
Read more

A Nike medicine ball can be used for all types of exercises and purposes, from stability to power to reaction. Jim Stoppani of Muscle and Fitness magazine raves about this useful and versatile piece of equipment, and recommends medicine balls…
Read more

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…
Read more

Resistance bands are thin, strong, elastic strength-training tools that can be used almost anywhere and are portable and economic. Unlike free weights, the resistance of the band changes with the tension applied to it because the harder you pull, the…
Read more

Overview Goalie equipment for ice hockey has come a long way from the beginning of the sport. From the first use of pads to protect the legs, goalie equipment has evolved into sophisticated gear that protects a goalie under the…
Read more

According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, adults need at least 30 minutes of exercise per day at least five days a week to maintain their health. Individuals will experience even greater benefit if they increase this…
Read more

Although countless core-training gadgets saturate the home workout equipment market, the word “core” is an overused buzzword. The phrase “core exercise” entices consumers with visions of six-pack abs and unlimited sex appeal, but it actually refers to workouts that engage…
Read more

Exercise bikes–for years considered the red-headed stepchild of fitness equipment after the introduction of ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines and other home workout equipment–are making a comeback in popularity. With upright and recumbent designs, adjustable resistance settings and sophisticated electronics, exercise…
Read more

Overview Knowing how and when to use avalanche safety equipment is important in back country mountain settings. A standard back country avalanche kit includes a transceiver, a probe and a shovel. Back-country skiers, snow boarders, climbers and snowmobilers should carry…
Read more

Whether you are playing volleyball, tennis, basketball or another sport, you’ll often need to jump high to be your best. Practicing different types of jumping movements will improve both your leg strength and your explosive power to get into those…
Read more

Gymnast Joseph Pilates was way ahead of his time. He developed his innovative exercise system in Germany during the early 20th century. The method evolved throughout the years. Some instructors teach a modernized version of the Pilates method, which features…
Read more

You’re training on a track and have the endurance portion down; however, you are still having trouble enhancing your speed. According to active.com, speed on the track can be learned through constant practice in developing the length of your stride…
Read more

Light weight, easily stored and capable of strengthening all major muscles groups–resistance bands benefit exercisers and athletes of all ability levels. The American College of Sports Medicine says that resistance bands first gained popularity as a way for elderly individuals…
Read more

Overview Badminton is a popular racket sport that, recent to 2010, has become an Olympic sport. Badminton uses unique equipment including a specific type of racket as well as a shuttle, a projectile used solely in badminton. The Badminton World…
Read more

Overview Pitching in competitive softball is a huge responsibility. The game tends to be low-scoring because pitchers have a wide array of pitches and tend to dominate the game. Many scores end up 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, or the like. Pitchers…
Read more

Fitness and exercise are very important for teenagers. In addition to the many long-term health benefits, physically fit teens have more energy and a better self-image, according to Teens Health. Teenagers do not have to join an organized sport to…
Read more

Overview While saying, “My hands are lethal weapons,” was a popular quip among fighters in the early 1990s, the idea of the hands being lethal is not all that far from the truth. Although most martial arts schools and traditions…
Read more

Treadmills are an effective way to burn calories and tone your lower body at the gym or in your home. If you are new to working out, you may be intimidated by the idea of beginning a running program and…
Read more

Weight machines use a system of pulleys and levers to help individuals target specific muscle groups for an effective workout. Weight machines are a great alternative to free weights, and come in all different shapes and sizes. Weight machines are…
Read more

Weight training is necessary for top swimming performance. It also helps prevent injuries, according to Dave Salo in “Complete Conditioning for Swimming.” Such training needs to focus on the movements that propel you through the water as you swim, such…
Read more

Athletes most often rely on plyometric drills to help improve the vertical leap, but adding some weight training drills will further improve jumping power. Weight training can help improve your muscular endurance as well as your muscular strength, which enhances…
Read more

Obtaining a flat abdomen is a common but challenging fitness goal. Abdominal sculpting is an art and a science, which requires patience, perseverance and strategy. Well-designed abdominal workouts are potentially effective, when performed in good form. Keep realistic goals. While…
Read more

Your hamstrings, the muscles that run along the back of your thighs, are responsible for extension of the hip joint. A lifestyle with hours and hours of sitting down can leave your hamstrings weak and under-worked, leading to postural imbalances…
Read more

Any type of exercise requires attention to detail in form, positioning and function, and that’s especially true of weight lifting and weight training. Understanding proper safety procedures in a weight room at the local gym or in a home environment…
Read more

Strength training with a resistance band allows you to provide resistance in multiple directions to work your muscles from a range of angles during your workouts. Working with resistance bands also allows you to easily adjust resistance in the middle…
Read more

Overview Cycling is an excellent form of exercise because it works large muscle groups without the pounding you get from running. Bicycles are such an efficient form of transportation, however, that you may find that you have to pedal harder…
Read more

Choosing the proper sequence of exercises in a Pilates core workout is often the subject of lively debate. Those who follow the traditional Pilates method begin with “the hundred” exercise, which involves raising your extended legs to a 45-degree angle,…
Read more

The stability exercise ball promotes core muscle involvement during exercise. By sitting or balancing on a stability ball, users can work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. When a person sits on the ball, the muscles of the core (any muscle connected…
Read more

Overview Batting practice helps hitters improve their craft. One of the ways a hitter can groove his swing is to swing in a batting cage. A live pitcher may tire out after throwing to three or four batters, but a…
Read more

Overview The legs contain four major muscle groups–the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. When you want to build leg muscle, you need to dissect each one of these parts with weight-training exercises. Compound exercises that involve more than one joint…
Read more