Fitness

Getting a flat stomach at 50 takes a combination of exercise and diet. Abdominal exercises such as sit-ups, crunches and leg lifts will help tone your abdominal muscles, but a 50-year-old also...

The practice of yoga is an effective form of exercise for overall body toning. Various yoga poses work to tone different parts of the body and a comprehensive yoga session involves all types of...

If you've ever wanted to install your own chin-up bar in your home, but didn't know how to do so, it's not as hard as it might sound. In fact, you can build and install your own chin-up bar using...

Performing reverse push-ups regularly can increase the strength in your back, shoulders, and arms. Not only do reverse push-ups increase strength, but they also increase flexibility of the back...

The neck strain caused by abdominal exercise is often due to poor posture or improper form. People sometimes interlace their fingers behind their heads when doing crunches. As the abdominal...

Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in the anus area become swollen and inflamed, which can be painful or itchy. Some causes include varicose veins, constipation, a sluggish liver and too much...

The shoulder is a highly used ball and socket joint that's responsible for allowing the arm to perform a variety of tasks. As strong as the joint is, it's also fairly susceptible to injury that in...

Not everyone can afford to use expensive gym equipment to work out. Medicine balls are a popular and inexpensive way to work your core. Exercising with a medicine ball is a great workout for your...

Working toward a toned, firm stomach isn't just a vanity project. Core strength is a vital part of total body strength, providing a necessary nexus and balancing point between any upper body and...

I hate to exercise. I hate running it hurts my knees. Walking might be ok if I didnt have to go outside, I bought a machine.....

The Bender Ball method, developed by exercise guru Leslee Bender, targets the abdominal area of the body. The manufacturer claims exercises performed with the 9-inch Bender Ball strengthens core...

Foam rollers are dense pieces of foam that can be used for stretching exercises to improve balance, core strength and to teach body awareness. The rolling of the foam can relieve muscle tightness...

The pushup is the most portable, and arguably the most effective, total upper body exercise. It targets the chest, but it also benefits the shoulders, back and arms. Preparing appropriately before...

Getting back into pre-baby shape is one of the first goals new mom's have. But the lack of sleep and energy often make it difficult for moms to get into a regular fitness routine. Fortunately,...

Women's stomach exercises are designed to flatten stomachs and tighten abs. Stronger stomach muscles will improve your posture, increase flexibility, and help your digestion. A consistent exercise...

Getting into shape and staying in shape keeps you healthy, strong, and confident. Many exercise programs are available, but you could try one of the fastest growing exercise forms in the world:...

Flat ab muscles aren't just for looks. They also help with balance and coordination and are an important factor in maintaining heart health. Fortunately, you don't have to go to a gym or buy the...

There are benefits and drawbacks associated with exercising with leg or ankle weights. They can increase endurance but they can also increase the risk for injury. They can be used during...

Building muscles without machines requires free weights, discipline and focus. The biggest difference between free weights and machines is that with free weights, you are responsible for...

Pelvic obliquity is a condition where the pelvis becomes misaligned due to weak muscles or a difference of length in the legs. This can cause pain in the lower back and pelvis and can be slightly...

Spinal fusion is a process where vertebrae in the back are surgically brought together to relieve back pain. Post surgery rehabilitation is important to improve range of motion and to alleviate...

Tubing provides resistance for exercises, using elasticity and the body's natural weight to make workouts more effective. Tubing is particularly effective for slow exercises that isolate one body...

Using a Thera-Band in a workout adds a small amount of resistance to movements to help improve stability, muscle tone and strength. The Thera-Band is effective for baseball pitchers to use due to...

The back of the arm or triceps is a three-headed muscle whose function is to straighten the arm and twist the wrist. It's also a trouble spot. It often can be flabby, and unsightly with sleeveless...

A balance disk, or a seating disk, is similar to a stability or medicine ball in function because it adds intensity to the workout by implementing balance as a way of tightening the core. It is an...

If you are planning an beach vacation and want to make sure your body is toned and sculpted, achieving solid abs is probably high on your to-do list. The abdominal area can be broken down into...

The stability ball is an effective piece of exercise equipment for the core, which includes the upper and lower back, side obliques and the abs. There are several different ways to use the...

The ab rocker is a piece of exercise equipment designed to help you do abdominal exercises. It is designed to provide neck support and keep you in a stable position while doing crunches. By using...

A strong, flexible spine is needed in order to support the muscles and tissues of the upper body adequately. There are many exercises designed to increase spinal strength and flexibility,...

Shin splints, a painful condition along the shinbone, are caused by high-impact sports and the weakness of muscles in the lower leg. Shin splints can be treated by the RICE method of rest, ice,...

Working with an isolation ball is recommended for those who do not own weights or are recovering from an injury and need to strengthen the body. Isolation balls help build core strength and...

A knee injury or knee pain can be caused by weak muscles around the patella, or kneecap. The patella protects the knee joint. It can become misaligned if the quadriceps muscles are weak or...

The patella, better known as the kneecap, is a bone that covers the knee joint. There are several muscles and tendons that surround the patella and connect it to the quadriceps that stabilize,...

If you enjoy doing yoga or Pilates, you should consider purchasing a floor mat. This is a small, portable mat that spreads out on any surface and is slightly padded. It keeps you from injuring...

Surfing is a muscle intensive sport. Good swimming fitness is required as much as a good core muscular system. Proper physical condition will help prepare the body and prevent painful injury. The...

A "physical ball" is a large, inflated ball that you can sit upon and lift in aid of exercise. Using a physical ball during a workout helps create resistance by using the body's own weight to...

The Bodyfit ball is a stability ball used to help strengthen core muscles through the use of balance and resistance. Stability balls are highly effective for those who can not use weights for...

Tendinitis is the inflammation of the joints and tendons, causing pain when these joints are stretched. Tendinitis can be caused by overuse, arthritis and age. Hip tendinitis can cause a drastic...

The T-Tapp workout involves movements that are similar to Yoga and Pilates, but has many of its own copyrighted T-Tapp moves. These movements are designed to help your body restore metabolic...

With so many different routines and so much equipment designed to help you obtain a slim midsection, which exercises are actually proven to work your abdominals? Following are the five best...

Sitting all day at work can be a real pain in the neck and back. Balance balls, or stability balls, are helpful in relieving that tension while strengthening back muscles, improving posture and...

If you want to tone and sculpt your pecs, performing a few simple chest exercises is the key. Along with a balanced diet and regular aerobic exercise, strength training workouts are essential to...

Doing clap pushups is an effective way to build muscle in your arms and chest. A "clap" pushup differs from an ordinary pushup by having you clap your hands between repetitions. It's a fairly...

Gaining shoulder strength is important for everyday activities as well as for sports. The deltoid muscle is the larger of the two shoulder muscles and lies on the outside corner of the shoulder....

Three muscle areas make up the human thigh: abductor muscles (inner thigh), quadriceps muscle (front of the thigh) and the hamstrings (back of the thigh). The female body stubbornly carries a lot...

Obtaining a sculpted abdominal region is the goal for many individuals, but to do so you need to be committed to working your stomach muscles. Crunches and other floor based ab exercises only work...

Everyone, and I mean every living person, dreams of having a lean, chiseled mid-section. Do they necessarily care if those abs are strong,probably not. What most people do not know is that having...

Many seniors are concerned about staying in shape and realize that keeping fat off of their mid-sections is particularly important. Experts say that for every inch on your belly, you take two...

Many people do not have the time or money to join a gym. You can still get a great workout, however, by exercising from home. With little or no equipment, you can do simple boot camp-style...

After giving birth, many women are eager to find their formerly flat stomach, which is now lost beneath the sagging, doughy middle that appears postpartum. To get a flat stomach, women have to...