Fitness

Tight calves are a common problem that can lead to a variety of problems, such as muscle pulls, sprains or chronic cramping. To alleviate tightness, you will need to take active measures to...

Weak knees are easy to injure and susceptible to excruciating pain. Not stretching the legs and knees properly before or after exercise can also cause the knee cap or patella to become misaligned....

Modern society can at times place a great deal of importance on the size, shape and appearance of a woman's buttocks. At one time, a large bottom was considered a bad thing, but now the opposite...

Tightness in the knee and ankle area is a common problem among individuals who spend a lot of time on their feet. Unnatural muscle tightness can increase the likelihood of injury, so take the...

Muscle cramps, especially in the legs, can be an unwelcome side effect of exercising. Cramps are painful muscle spasms and most often occur in the upper (thigh/hamstring) and lower leg (calf). The...

As if women don't already have enough trouble zones to tackle when trying to create a slim and fit body, the constant battle against cellulite always is looming even when you are a smaller woman...

Athletes, dancers and those who practice karate are prone to groin strains and injuries. One way to prevent groin injuries is to increase flexibility in the groin tendons and muscles. The major...

Ever wonder how movie actors get defined six pack abs; abs that look like they are painted on? Do they sit in gyms for 40 hours a week? NO!!! They don't even do crunches! You too can have a 'beach...

A person's ankle size is largely a result of bone size dictated by genetics. However, there are exercises a person can perform to increase the size and strength of the tendons that extend into...

A leg cramp, also called a "charley horse," is a common occurrence, according to the National Sports Medicine Institute. A leg cramp is a sudden extreme pain in the muscle caused by an...

Mini stability balls can come in different sizes and can make for a great workout whether you are at home or at the gym. Many fitness professionals and athletes incorporate the exercise ball into...

There are many ways to strengthen your body without using weights or going to an expensive gym. You can target many of the large muscle groups with a few simple exercises that can be modified to...

Split shins develop from excessive walking, exercising and stress on the heels and soles of your feet. Often many athelets, runners, and jogger experience many different levels of split shins. ...

Some people claim that you cannot get a great workout using only machine weights. Instead, you need to use free weights. This is not true. While free weights certainly are great for functional...

Mini trampolines are easy home exercise devices, and the fact they easily fold for storage behind a door or under a bed makes them convenient. They weigh about 25 pounds and, when unfolded,...

The hamstring is the large muscle that runs up the backside of your thigh. Predominantly used for bending your leg at the knee, your hamstrings are being used every time you walk, run or even...

Leg cramps caused by the sudden involuntary contraction of your leg muscles can be very painful. They come about through too much exercise and exertion, dehydration or poor nutrition. Some...

Embracing a willingness to train around injuries is the mark of a champion (or at least the mark of someone who is dedicated to achieving fitness). If you have broken your ankle, weight-bearing...

A muscle energy technique is a method you can use to strengthen weak muscles, lengthen short muscles or simply increase a muscle's range of motion. According to the Massage Therapy 101 website,...

To build leg muscle, you must be dedicated to the work out practice of your choice and consistently work on your goals. There are several different ways to build leg muscle that work well, no...

The calves, hips and thighs are usual trouble zones for both men and women who want to tone their bodies. These areas are especially exposed during the warmer months, when shorts, skirts and...

So you feel it's time to shape up those quadriceps (quads) muscles? The quads are your thigh muscles, and as one of the largest muscle groups of the body, they can often be a challenge to...

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...

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...

According to Joey Atlas, author of "Fatness to Fitness," the hip and leg areas are the hardest places to lose fat, especially in women. With time, and the willingness to comply with a diet and...

Strengthening and stabilizing the hips prevents hip injury, especially for the elderly. Although many exercises work the flexion and extension of the hip, hip abduction exercises ensure that the...

Getting into shape is a great thing. Not only does it help you to feel better mentally and physically, but it also helps you to look better. Getting into shape isn't always easy but if you want to...

Sore leg muscles can occur after sprinting if the runner strains or tears a muscle. Sore leg muscles can occur from not properly warming up the muscles prior to sprinting, as well. There are...

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...

Stretching is important. When we all grow older, the flexibility we all had as a child goes away. You can regain some of that flexibility by doing regular stretching exercises. Some of the most...

Exercising on a daily basis or playing sports can take a toll on your joints. The aging of your body also contributes to the stiffness in your knees, elbows and shoulders. Implementing a couple of...

Gaining weight in your calves is a matter of building more muscle. The calf is the back portion of the lower leg, also known as the crus. Building the calf muscle takes a lot of effort, as it is...

Exercising with a partner, along with providing encouragement, allows you to do more complex exercises than you could on your own, and to push yourself further. There are several hamstring...

Injuries to the meniscus in the knee joint can make standing up from a chair painful and difficult. An injured patient can regain the strength he needs to support and stabilize his knee by doing...

The calves are large groups of muscles on the backs of the lower leg that assist the body with plantar flexion, the technical term for increasing the angle between the shin and the top of the...

If you have vertigo, Ménière's disease or difficulty maintaining your balance, you know how it can interfere with daily activities. While these conditions are frustrating, you can find...

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...

The Weider Max exercise machine uses resistance bands to offer a full range of motion exercises without the need for space-consuming equipment. The Weider Max exercise machine has adjustable parts...

Before doing any leg exercise, whether is it something as simple as running or as muscle impacting as lunges and squats, it is important to stretch your legs out before you begin. Each muscle...

Injuries to the knee and hamstring can be painful, and whether your goal is simple exercise or rehabilitation, exercising the knee joint and its attached muscles is an important part of staying...

Losing weight is a challenge for most people, and many may find it hard to fit exercise into their busy lifestyles. Most may not realize however that there are several little ways that people can...

The Bodymaster line of weight training equipment has separate machines to isolate specific muscle groups by focusing your effort around a targeted joint--in this case, the hip joint . The leg...

During knee replacement surgery, the physician scrapes away the natural cartilage of the joint and replaces it with a metal-and-plastic brace that functions like a knee. Because the replacement...

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,...

Ankle weights are lightly weighted tubes that can be slipped over or around the ankle. Adding a slight amount of weight to a simple exercise adds resistance and can help increase strength. Ankle...

Gel balls are basically medicine balls that are made of gel for durability and better handling. They come in a variety of weights and sizes, and are used for training and aerobic exercises in gyms...

Bone health and strength is an issue that many people face as they age. As we get older, our bones tend to lose density, resulting in diseases such as osteoperosis. While many men and women begin...

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...

A cracked hip can be very painful and difficult to recover from. Hip injuries make it difficult to walk and even harder to perform any rehabilitating exercises. It is important to try and perform...

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,...