Author: Chris Ritchie
The practice of Isometric Exercise is over thousand years old. The word is derived from two Greek phrases “Iso” (meaning same) and metric (meaning distance). Thus, the length of the muscle does not change in Isometric Exercise, nor does the contraction strength does not change, but the joint angles do. Isometric exercise involves muscular contraction against resistance without movement. Isometric exercise is essentially a type of exercise that should be done in static positions, i.e. the contractions of muscles should be done without any movement in the angle of joint instead of being dynamic through a range of motions. It…
Leg cramps can occur in many different situations. Some people wake up with severe leg cramps; others get them while trying to go to sleep. Athletes sometimes experience leg cramps while working out or simply walking. What is a Leg Cramp? A leg cramp is basically an involuntary contraction of a muscle. It can be an agonizing pain. When a muscle contracts or spasms and a knot forms in the hamstring, quadriceps, foot or calf this is a leg cramp also known as a Charlie horse. This can last for only a few seconds or up to an agonizing 15…
Consider the causes of sore muscles as you think about the discomfort you feel after an intense workout. Causes of Sore Muscles Muscles can become very sore after exercise, especially when the person is not used to working out on a regular basis. When the muscles are stretched to their very limits, they can become sore because they have to heal. Since the muscle has to heal, it is important to avoid using it until the pain goes away. Injury is not the only cause of sore muscles. The condition can occur if the muscles do not get enough oxygen…
Every woman would love to have a lean flat abdomen. Every man loves to admire that six pack abdomen. A flat stomach is nice but a defined stomach is just sexy. Proper Diet to Get a Six Pack for Girls To get a slim, trim, flat and defined abdomen you must eat the proper nutrients to first lose fat, and then build muscle. You lose the fat first because believe it or not, there is muscle under that fat. So you need to eat a diet designed for fat loss, not muscle building. Then once you see a glimmer of…
Can tai chi improve your health? Proponents for this ancient practice suggest that it can, and a recent Mayo Clinic article Tai Chi: Improved Stress Reduction, Balance, Agility for All seems to support this claim. The martial art offers many benefits for a person’s mind and body. What is Tai Chi? What is tai chi? The program is a form of martial art that incorporates mind-body exercises in its techniques. The individual has an opportunity to improve health, mental functioning and overall wellbeing using the “moving meditation”. This approach is excellent because it helps you become balanced with heightened awareness…
Many marathons are held each year in a wide range of locations. Some are held just simply based on tradition, while others are held for the purpose of raising money for a cause. For the better known marathons, hundreds and sometimes thousands of people participate. Unfortunately, more than half of them are in no way prepared physically for the demands that they are about to place on their bodies, and this can make running a marathon dangerous for those people. The Cardiac Dangers of Running a Marathon Because it is the most serious of potential problems associated with running a…
Whatever the cause when you are sore and achy all over you simply want to feel better as soon as possible. Holistic Natural Treatments for Soreness All Over Your Body Many variations of relaxation and holistic treatments are available and successful in treating soreness. Meditation – has been shown to be effective for treating fibromyalgia and arthritis pain. Yoga – practicing yoga can minimize the need for pain medication; it increases your flexibility and muscle strength as well. Shiatsu – Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing process and has been effective in treating pain all over the body. Acupuncture – using…
Sport and exercise requires energy, and that energy comes from two sources – carbohydrates and fat that is stored in your body. Carbohydrates are used up very quickly, which is why low-carbohydrates work so well for losing weight – it causes your body to burn more fat because there is nothing else to use for energy. So, does this mean that you should eat more carbohydrates before sport? The Best Foods to Eat Before Sport It isn’t necessarily carbohydrates that you need to fuel your sport. In fact, what you need is best determined by the type of sport your…
Beer bellies, we have all seen them, some of us have them. Some people display them with pride and other people work hard to rid themselves of the beer belly in search of the six pack abdomen. Ironic isn’t it? Calories in Alcohol Causes Beer Bellies Alcohol contains a huge amount of calories, after consuming only a few beers you have drank enough calories to compare it to a small meal. When you consume more calories than you burn, fat is formed. To the calories contained in the beer you can add the calories in the snacks you have while…
Weightlifting for type 2 diabetes? It appears that this is an excellent approach because it is supported by research commissioned by the Agricultural Research Service. The focus of the studies is Hispanic populations because the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in this group is almost twice as high as the prevalence in Caucasians. The ParticipantsThe subjects were older than 55 years and included both men and women. The participants had type 2 diabetes for an average of nine years. Each participant had a physical exam including and electrocardiogram. Sixty volunteers participated in the study, and half of them served as…