Comprehensive fitness involves a mix of strength training for hypertrophy, HIIT for metabolic health, and corrective exercises for postural alignment.
The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland sits in the lower part of the neck and plays a key role in the endocrine system. It produces thyroid hormone, which the body converts and distributes to every cell. These hormones affect the metabolic functioning of every system and function in the body.
Read more →
Isometric exercises involve the contraction of muscle tissue at a specific angle. These exercises are used to rehabilitate an injured joint rather than to improve overall strength, speed or endurance.
Read more →
When a joint in your spine moves while you stretch or during spinal manipulation, you may hear a cracking noise. This sound is harmless, although manipulating your joints to make them crack can sometimes cause joint irritation.
Read more →
A burning sensation in your shoulder muscles after lifting weights may be a sign of shoulder tendonitis. You may develop shoulder tendonitis in your rotator cuff or where your bicep tendon meets the shoulder.
Read more →
The mechanics of walking are somewhat different to those of running. The different stride profiles of running and walking affect the power efficiency, maximum speed and impact level of the activity on your body.
Read more →
The ability to store a treadmill under the bed is a benefit for people who want to exercise but have limited space or don't like to leave their exercise equipment within sight.
Read more →
Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise increases the heart rate, which delivers oxygenated blood to the lunges and muscles. Cardio provides several health benefits like increased stamina, improved immune system function, a stronger heart and fat loss.
Read more →
When it comes to losing body fat, the key is to burn more calories than you are consuming -- and there are two ways you can do that. One way is to reduce the number of calories that you are eating and the other is to burn off calories through exercise.
Read more →
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as many as 72 million Americans are obese. One of the best ways to prevent becoming part of this statistic is through exercising.
Read more →
You may have noticed that sprinters run with their knees higher than distance runners do, allowing them to achieve maximum power for a short distance. For longer distances, however, this high-knee style can waste energy. Unless you are sprinting, you don't need to worry about knee height for speed.
Read more →
Open chain exercises isolate one muscle group. The knee is a hinged joint that is supported by the quadriceps and hamstrings. When it comes to exercise selection for the knee, you have the option of doing either open chain or closed chain exercises.
Read more →
Between the ages of 30 and 80 testosterone levels in men decline; levels can reach as low as 20 percent of what it was during a male’s youth. A decrease in testosterone can lead to a number of illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
Read more →
About 31 million Americans suffer from back pain at some point. It’s the second most common reason for going to the doctor. While most people with back pain have a sprain, ruptured disk or irritated joint, others suffer from chronic conditions such as inflammatory arthritis or a degenerative disease.
Read more →
VO2 and VCO2 are important variables in measuring your body’s metabolism and efficiency during exercise. VO2 stands for the volume of oxygen that your body utilizes each minute. Similarly, VCO2 is the volume of carbon dioxide that you breathe out after transporting oxygen through your body.
Read more →
Basketball players tend to be tall, thin athletes because their height helps them to reach toward the basketball goal and defend the ball against opponents. Male professional basketball players tend to be about 9 inches taller than the average American male, according to NBA.com and Dr. Steven Halls on Halls.MD.com.
Read more →
The Bowflex Xtreme home gym is designed to provide a full-body workout and offers more than 65 exercises. The Xtreme owner's manual provides detailed information on the many exercises that can be performed on the home gym.
Read more →
Running is effective at burning calories, strengthening your heart and building muscle on your legs. Many people start to run for the physical fitness benefits but soon find that running offers much more, including relieving stress, boosting confidence and lifting their spirits.
Read more →
A popular misconception in fitness and nutrition circles is that it is impossible to build muscle and lose weight -- via a caloric deficit -- simultaneously. While this is not impossible to do, it can be quite difficult and requires several specific circumstances to be in place.
Read more →
You may find your stomach to be the toughest part of the body to return to normal after pregnancy, even if it’s been six months, one year or possibly even longer since your baby has been born. Common causes are a weak core and a condition called diastasis recti.
Read more →
Getting certified to become a kickboxing instructor can seem daunting without guidance. The good news is, whether you are a fitness enthusiast, martial arts guru or a participant in a kickboxing class that fell in love with the format, getting certified is not difficult.
Read more →