Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.
The straight-arm pulldown isn't seen that often in the gym, but those in the know rely on it to add back width. It is an isolation movement, meaning that only one joint is mobile, and while it works several of the same major muscle groups as the pullup, it removes biceps from the equation.
Read more →
Your glutes can be a source of pride or focus of concern. Keep your glutes firm and lifted, or enhance the appearance of your backside, by adding ankle weight exercises to your workout.
Read more →
Shaky hands after exercise is generally nothing to be worried about. Fatigue and low blood sugar are likely the culprits. However, some medications, coffee and tea and having an overactive thyroid may also be contributing to the issue.
Read more →
Your 30s are a great time to start bodybuilding. While you might be slightly apprehensive if you've never trained for bodybuilding or even done much in the way of strength training before, you're far from being too old to start. Bodybuilding doesn't have to take over your entire life, and it can be very beneficial.
Read more →
Incline and decline push-ups target the different sections of the chest muscle. An incline works the lower chest while a decline works the upper.
Read more →
Squats are among the best exercises for strengthening the muscles of your legs and hips. Two variations of the movement -- the back squat, which uses a barbell, and the hack squat, which requires a dedicated hack squat machine -- target the quadriceps muscles on the front of your thigh.
Read more →
Experiencing twitching muscles after an exercise session is not uncommon, particularly if your muscles are fatigued or you are not getting enough electrolytes in your body. Taking measures to alter your workout routine and watch your diet can help avoid twitching in many cases.
Read more →
Lunges are popular for toning and strengthening your legs, including your quadriceps, a muscle that extends from your hips to your knees. A muscle imbalance, neglecting to warm up before doing lunges, overusing your leg muscles or exercising them while they're fatigued, all make you susceptible to a quadriceps strain.
Read more →
There is no doubt that performing consistent physical activity has positive effects on your health. Along with lowering your risk for certain diseases and health conditions, physical activity helps you reduce body fat or maintain a healthy body weight.
Read more →
Three miles is nothing to a track star, but if you are a running novice, the distance may seem insurmountable. If you are an otherwise healthy person, you can run three miles if you commit to consistent training. Start with a short distance and work your way up to longer runs.
Read more →
Playing sports provides participants with opportunities to develop skills in communication and team building, according to Keith Zullig, a public health researcher. These skills enable people to function effectively as leaders, as well.
Read more →
When performed correctly, seated leg extensions can really make the definition on the front of your thighs pop. Correct setup, controlled movement, and the right amount of weight are key to getting the greatest benefit while placing the least amount of stress on your knees.
Read more →
While a drop in outside temperature means it's time to replace t-shirts for sweatshirts, it also means it's flu season. The flu virus is more prevalent during colder months than any other time of year.
Read more →
Exercising with a heart rate sensor allows you to check how much effort you bring based on your heart rate. The higher your heart rate, the harder your lungs work, which is proportionately tied to your calorie expenditure.
Read more →
Cable rows require the use of a V-bar, and they are performed from a seated position on a low pulley machine. As you pull the bar toward your gut, you bend your elbow and shoulder joints. This in turn causes you to work multiple muscles at the same time.
Read more →
Whether you call yourself a hard-gainer, an ectomorph, or just plain skinny, you're not alone in your efforts to pack on healthy weight and gain muscle strength and size. Many naturally thin men have a difficult time upping their body mass.
Read more →
A rear delt fly done with dumbbells strengthens your upper back muscles and shoulders while working on stabilization strength in your spine, deep abdominals and hips. The exercise requires you to maintain a neutral spine position and avoid moving the torso.
Read more →
Tight hamstrings on a run can cause a muscle cramp or muscle spasm. When your muscle cramps, it doesn't contract smoothly while running, which can lead to sore and tender muscles. In many cases, the cause of hamstring cramps is something simple and is easily correctable by taking preventive measures.
Read more →
If you are looking to shed extra pounds as quickly as possible, a combination of healthy diet and Tae Bo exercise is a good way to go. Tae Bo is a kickboxing-style cardio exercise that gained popularity in the 1990s. It has had continued success over the years because it get results.
Read more →
If you have knee problems, you will find it difficult if not impossible to participate in high-impact exercise activities. Exercises that involve sudden movements such as jumping, landing and abrupt turning can damage knee joints further and cause severe pain.
Read more →