Archive for the ‘Leg Exercise’ Category

Legging It At Home!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Why go to a gym when you can do leg exercises at home? Don’t waste time and money at a gym when you can exercise your legs at home for free. All you need is a little guidance and know-how. Once you know that, this will be a cakewalk for you. Only you have to keep at it and not give up halfway. There are different exercises for people with different needs. For example, there are different exercises for the athletes as well as ordinary people. There are ones for men and women as well.
There are many reasons why you should do leg workouts at home:

  • Legs take you places
  • Helps prevent illnesses relating to veins
  • Help you stay in the best shape possible.

Thus there are many reasons to do leg exercises at home.

Leg workouts at home:

There are many kinds of leg exercises that you can do at home. Some of the best ones are:

  • Lunges which are used for most of the muscles in your legs. Here you have to stand with your legs apart and then take a big step forward. Then you must lower your body down till your leg at the back forms a 90 degree with the knee.
  • Plies is to to tone the inner and outer parts of your thighs. This also helps the joints in the legs. You can do this exercise with the help of a chair for support.
  • Heel Raise is another useful exercise for you to do at home. These help the calf muscles a lot. These will also help people who want really quick results to come out of their exercising.
  • You can also do leg exercises at home with weights.

Leg exercises for women:

Women have certain types of exercises which are ideal for leg workouts at home. One of the most important leg exercises for women, are the ones which involve thigh exercises. This especially is required for the inner and outer position of the thighs. These exercises are the easiest ones. Some of these are:

  • Inner thigh lifts: you have to lie on one side by keeping your legs joined. Your upper part will have to be propped up by your elbow or even forearm. Bend the top leg, move it forward so that it comes in front of the body.
  • Outer thigh lifts:the position should be the same as above. Here you have to raise the upper leg by some inches and then lower it. Then you should go to the other side.

Thus leg exercises at home for women are really helpful.

Thus you should do these exercises to ensure a healthy life.

Exercises for a Complete Leg Training

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Leg training exercise generally consists of squat, leg press, barbell and dumbbell with weights, lunges, leg extensions, dead lifts and leg curls. Now, among these the best leg training exercise programs are designed keeping in mind the fitness goals and levels that one wishes to achieve or should ideally maintain.

To begin with, squatting is by far the best leg exercise. Squat done appropriately would develop leg mass and increase strength. This is important as the quadriceps is best exercised through squat.

Squat in turn has a number of variations namely; squat with dumbbell, front squat and sissy squat. Each of these variations target separate muscle groups and hence the development takes place overall.

Leg press exercise help you work on weights. Also it doesn’t pressure your back. Lunges and leg extensions follow the above along with stiff leg dead lift and leg curl for the hamstrings thereby giving you complete leg training.

A few more leg exercises could always be added on to your leg workout:
Calf Raises with leg press and hack squat machines, seated calf raises, lying leg curls, standing leg curls and standing calf raises,

Bodybuilding leg training routines are normally designed ensuring the stimulation of as many muscles as possible. A proper diet is essential in this case and one needs to understand the intake of food products along with its nutritional value. It is also advised to perform cardiovascular and leg workouts separately. They focus on different sections of the body and should not feature in the same schedule. You could go a step further and work on the different muscle groups like quadriceps, hamstrings and calves on different schedules.

For more or even more…visit any site that talks about body building. It would definitely surprise you!

Leg Training Exercises for Skiers are designed considering their current leg workouts, their flexibility exercises and if they may have any injuries. For skiers it is compulsory to begin training at least 10-12 weeks prior the skiing season. This helps the body get used to things like stability, balance, hip flexibility and the like. It also helps the different muscles groups to work in proper sync as while you are skiing it is important to have powerful legs that can help navigate through any terrain.

Gathering up, skiing as a sport involves your leg mostly but the rest of the body also gives in to the equation to be complete. For this it is important to concentrate on appropriate workouts or bodybuilding and leg training routines.

Break A Leg!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Legs are some of the most important parts of our body. This is why leg exercise equipment is so vital. Though our legs are the most neglected part of our body, yet they need to last a lifetime. Imagine being paralysed or having any kind of problems which hinder your legs. This is why you cannot get away with neglecting your legs. You need to exercise them so that they remain in good shape all the time. You can exercise your legs for the following reasons:

  • Athletics, if you are in sports.
  • Shapely legs for a good look.
  • Healthy and strong legs to be able to get around.

Both men and women can exercise their legs. While men can use equipment for building up muscular legs with shape. Women can do the same to have toned legs. You can even use home leg exercise equipment to shape up at home.

What is leg exercise gear?

The equipment used to exercise your legs come with many functions. You use it to develop the muscles in your legs. It allows you to focus on some muscle groups. The muscles that it helps build up are:

  • Quadriceps: These are the muscles on the front and side of the thighs.
  • Femoris: These are on the back of the thighs.
  • Triceps surae: These are the calf muscles.
  • Groin muscles: Muscles located inside of the thigh.
  • Gluteus maximus: Buttocks muscles.

How to use such equipment:

This helps build up resistance in your legs. For example if you do a squat with a knee bend then all your leg muscles are being worked at the same time. Then there is that gear which helps to build up your calves. Here you need to raise weighs using the balls on your feet. The best leg exercise equipment is the one which lets you do a variety of these functions. Some equipment needs kicking motions which exercise the thighs.

The squats need a leg press. You need to put the weights on your shoulders. A similar machine is used for the calf muscles. There is also something called leg adduction machines. This helps to build up the resistance in your legs. They help the muscles in the hips and the thigh muscles on the outer side.

Remember that when you are using such gear, always be extra careful when it comes to putting the weights. Never take up too much weight. In case this slips or drops while doing the exercise then you will be badly hurt. Only pick as much as you can manage. Always keep this in mind while leg press exercise equipment.

Know your Quadriceps

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

The quadriceps femoris muscle commonly known as quads is what the fleshy mass of the frontal thigh is all about. The Wikipedia explains in detail along with a picture as to what is referred to as the quadriceps and its other parts.

This muscle group helps and controls the movement and bending of the knee and the hip. The other portions in this muscle group are:

  • Rectus femoris
  • Vastus Lateralis
  • Vastus Intermedius
  • Vastus Medialis

The quadriceps exercises are done to improve strength, mobility, flexibility and power. They are involved in all activities of the lower body like walking, jumping, running, climbing and the like. For athletes and sportsmen quads are what keep them ahead in the tracks. So they need to be put through a proper regime and taken care so as not to be injured.

The general quadriceps exercises could be listed as under:

  • Forward squat
  • Wide squat
  • Hack squat
  • Lunge squat
  • Barbell squat
  • Single leg squat
  • Full lunges
  • Reverse lunge
  • Step-ups
  • Step-downs
  • Leg press
  • Sled press
  • Leg extension
  • Leg curls

The list above is what is commonly followed in any gym or is known by anyone who is into body building and exercising. Now if you are really serious and want to go all out in this, then you have to beat through the Google and visit other fitness portals. They would in a way surprise you as there are options in whatever looks good for you to follow. There are explanations along with videos that show you how to use the most hi-tech and compact equipment. A step further you could even shop online!

From the list drawn above the quadriceps strengthening exercises could be listed as under:

  • Quad press
  • Quadriceps contraction
  • Heel slide
  • Wall slide
  • Knee extension
  • Straight leg raise
  • Squats with Swiss balls
  • Lunges
  • Lunges with weights
  • Dumbbell step ups
  • Stretches

For total gym quadriceps exercise it is important that you visit the local gym and have a talk with the trainer or the physical instructor. You would also get to see what equipments are available at the gym and how could they help you in your workout sessions.

There would be a number of equipments that are generally difficult to be installed in a home environment; other reasons being far more specific than initial cost. Besides, working out on such machines is always better and easier if there is someone from the trade to guide you and for you to refer.

The gym quadriceps exercise routine would normally get you doing the following:

  • All variations of squats
  • Leg press
  • Leg curls
  • Calf raises; all variations
  • Hamstrings; all variations
  • Barbell and dumbbell lunges

The above is a generic list. Your gym instructor could always make your routine even more variant and interesting!

Leg Exercises

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Exercising is the key to fitness and good health along with proper healthy diet and posture. There are separate exercises for each body part and depending upon your capacity and requirement you need to workout.

Talking about ones lower body parts legs happens to be of main importance. The main leg muscles that define an exercise routine are:

  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Glutes
  • Hip flexors
  • Adductors
  • Abductors

Now, each of the above group of muscles have separate functions and hence have different set of exercises along with equipments and attachments.

Let’s chart out a few details:

Best leg exercises
Leg raises, calf raises, exercise ball hamstrings curls, different kinds of  lifts, lifts, squat, walking lunges, twisting leg raises, wide stance squat, front squat, split lunge on the ball, elastic band lunges, push press, step ups, dead lifts, hack squats,
Best leg exercises for women
Seated calf raise, hamstring bridge with stability ball, hamstring curl with stability ball and dumbbell, single leg bridge, dead lift with medicine ball, inner thigh lift with bar, inner thigh toner with resistance tube, inner thigh circle, outer thigh lifts with stability ball, lunge, leg extension on stability ball, barbell squats, back extensions,
Best leg exercises for runners
Treadmills, lunges, burpees, side to side jumps and squats, twist jumps, jump and static lunges, high walks, squat thrusts, split squat thrust, half squats, squat and tuck jumps, single and bent calf raises, toe lift centre, toe lifts in and out, polymetrics and core exercises
Best leg exercises for cycling
It is an exercise involving a overall toned body. One needs to do most of the exercises mentioned under the other heads
Best leg toning exercises
Squat, kickback, inner thigh lift, outer thigh lift, walking, jogging, swimming

So far you have an average list of the best leg exercises. But you are still half way. A lot of you may be identifying few of the exercises listed here. But what most of us are unaware of are the right ways and postures of doing a particular exercise. Also, we don’t always give importance to the right kind of exercise as we generally think that it is important to ‘exercise’. We often miss out the how-why-which and what parts of an exercise.

It is also important to exercise in the right and safe surroundings in the right outfit using the right machine or attachment.

Before you jump in to have those really strong, well shaped, toned and firm pair of leg; visit the different health sites and portals. It not only provides you with videos of doing an exercise the right way, it also gives you an explanation as to the muscles and exercise relevance.

Leg Press Exercises and Machines

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Leg press exercises work on the muscle group that include the hamstrings, gluteus maximus, quadriceps, abductors and adductors.

Leg press exercise machine are of the following types.

  • A horizontal leg press or a diagonal sled press machine
  • The 45 degree leg press
  • The seated leg press with a cable
  • Sled lying leg press
  • Lever seated leg press; variation – single leg
  • Lever 45 degree leg press
  • Lever lying leg press; variation –single leg

Leg press exercise equipments particularly focus on weight training and so the correct posture is of utmost importance. Begin doing the exercise slowly and don’t hold your breath trying to lift a greater weight right away. That would neither help your stamina nor make you stronger.

Interestingly there are two ways of doing a leg press without using any machine. Yes, the first option is understood –using the Swiss ball. Another way could be your instructor. You would have to ask your instructor to help you look for someone of the body weight that you are planning to use in the machine. Next, lie on the floor raising your legs high and your feet a pad comfortably placed on the lower abdomen of this person helping you.

The idea is to have him leaning on the back of your toes with arms stretched sideways when your legs are held up horizontally. Then slowly bend your knees bringing them close to your chest after you would push the disk plates in a leg press machine and back to the starting position.

Be careful if you are in this process; no one should get hurt!
Seated leg press exercise is more popular with men. Though the method remains the same but some feel that the resistance provided works better. Well that’s for you to find out!

In a seated machine one needs to place himself comfortably on the seat that is normally covered with a padded support. Put your feet on the leg court and hold the handles on the sides.

Now once set, you need to push the platform forward till your knees and legs straighten. Then slowly slide back to the original position and continue till you can do it comfortably. Do not hurry. Take a gap of 15-20 seconds and then continue.

Once you have completed the set and are ready to exit, make sure you have your legs out first. Check if the platform is on guard before you get up. Then slowly stand on your foot and step out. Few trainers suggest that having toes pointed straight ahead is a good posture.

Leg Strengthening Exercises

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Working out and exercising is something which most of us are involved in today. The life style is rather so demanding that one ought to be in the right shape to deliver ones’ 100%. Now, did you know that a lot of all this depends on your levels of strength and stamina?

There are different forms of exercise that could keep you going. Strengthening the muscles of the legs is the beginning to a powerful session for the rest of the body ahead.

Martial arts, yoga, kung fu and the like are other forms of exercise apart from the conventional gym-going-routine. Also involvement in sports does help you have ‘a sound mind in a sound body’.

Leg strengthening exercises could be in different sets and numbers of repetition; the common ones being:
Quad press, heel slide, straight leg raise, hamstring strengthening, straight leg raise, hip hooray, back kick, knee strengtheners, hamstring stretch, Achilles stretch and tiptoes.

Leg strengthening exercises without weights- try a good ball sport, swimming, jogging, and local gym. Most importantly don’t give up. It may take a while initially for the results to be noticed visually but that’s what trying times are all about…and you have to go on!

Leg strengthening exercises for women- squat jump, lying hamstring curl, barbell dead lift, lunge.

Of all the sets mentioned herein the best leg strengthening exercises could be grouped as: lunges, heel raises, plies, dead lifts, squats and step-ups.

Now there could be some of you who are looking for leg strengthening exercises at home. To begin with you could always follow the ones mentioned in the column of exercises without weights. Few more would be: lunges, plies, heel raises, squat, and lateral raises.

Apart from the above; cycling could also be a terrific form of exercise for anybody to imbibe power and have real strong legs. This could be further enhanced by using weights.

It is important for anybody to know that the thighs, knee joint, ankle, foot and toe in turn have separate group of muscles which can be trained using various machines and for separate reasons. You could also choose to be in a no-machine-programme.

Whatever the training schedule may be it is always important to know the right method, technique and frequency of any exercise. You may be capable of doing a lot more but that in turn may either hamper some other body part or may simply not be required.

A lot of world renowned instructors today can be easily accessed through the internet. After a proper body evaluation you could send across your details and get the right regime outlined by them. You could also read through various blogs and portals to be updated about the recent equipments and techniques.

Leg Training

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Working out to keep fit and to look good are two different things. This is primarily important to understand because the hi-tech-automated world today introduces some superb equipments and regime depending upon one’s choice.

Keeping fit is not difficult as long as you are determined and perceive your body as a machine with attachments that needs care.

Working out to be in shape and have a toned body that looks nice needs a little more effort from your end. One has to understand that the body needs to be exercised overall and that there are particular work-out routines for different parts of the body.

Leg training sessions for ones’ leg is thus a separate field altogether and there are different sets of leg training routines for things like, strengthening, tone up, shape in, muscle power and so on.

One of the common and popular leg training ideas is to follow the set below:
For quadriceps: squat, lunge, step lunge, one leg squat
For hamstrings: stiff leg dead lift, leg curl
For calves: calf raises

Now leg extensions, full squats, walking lunges, calf raises are another set that seems to be instructed by most trainers.

Whatever the set or the number of repetitions of each set may be; remember to warm up before each session. Warming up is normally done by walking on the treadmill for about 5mins. It is also important to stretch ones’ muscles to avoid any injury. It is important to understand here that there are different muscle groups and each one of them need to be trained and so warming up is essential.

Of all the sets that one normally follows in a session, leg strength training programmes are the ones that need to be consistently followed.

It is always good to refer to the internet for all those interested in body building or having a fit body in shape. There are umpteen sites which tell you how to go about the regime. You would also get to see videos in which instructors show you the main working areas and help you identify the right posture and method of each set.

For beginners, it is always advisable to get involved in any kind of sports. Any ball game would help increase the strength of your legs and at the same time, would help you work on your level of stamina as well. Remember whatever activity you get involved in it has to be supplemented with good and healthy food along with proper sleep. Working out sessions would be fruitful only if your body statistics are well maintained.

Machines for Leg Exercise

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Leg exercise machines are available in a wide variety. To be able to use the right equipment you first need to identify the different muscles in the leg part of the body. This will help you understand the variations in the different machines and what is a particular machine exactly used for. Further, you need to be clear as to why are you using a leg exercise machine/equipment; as in for toning up the muscles, for having firm and strong legs or for increasing the strength and power in your leg muscles. There could be many more reasons.

Now, the common leg exercise machine types are:

  • Leg press; most common variations would be:
  • Diagonal
  • Sled type
  • Horizontal
  • Seated
  • Lever seated
  • 45 degree
  • Leg extension; mostly available as a combination machine with attachments
  • Leg curl; are available either as standing models or ones with a seat
  • Hack Squat
  • Smith Machine
  • Linear bearing sled
  • Vertical leg press
  • Butt and thigh shaper
  • Angled leg press
  • Leg Adduction
  • Calf machines; most common variations would be:
  • Seated
  • Leverage squat
  • Extreme
  • Standing

Fitness and health websites recommend the following as compact machines:

  • Leg shaper
  • Lateral balance stepper
  • Fitness stepper stair climb exercise mini step machine
  • Bun and thigh roller

A surf through the internet would give provide you pictures as well as the usage of the equipments listed above.

As per your exercise regime or requirement you would eventually decide whether you would be using a leg slider exercise machine or a leg extension exercise machine or a combo machine which offers you the facility of working out most muscles of your leg.

Whatever be the usage it is of utmost importance to ensure:

  • You have read and understood how to go about the using the machine.
  • You have either referred to the equipment manual or have detailed instructions as to the frequency required in using the machine to reach the level that you ought to.
  • You are in the optimum required physical condition and using the equipment will not hamper any other body part

There are few machines which can be installed in a fitness centre only. Depending upon the usage, you could choose to go for home exercise equipments as well. For this the points above need to be followed closely.

Most of us generally are not very good with our knowledge boundaries of health related issues. When it comes to exercise and equipments this is something that anyone needs to work on. One primarily needs to understand ‘why’ to use a machine and ‘what’ is its function.

Schedules for Leg Workout

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

A lot of people in general are regular visitors to the gym. For most people it’s either a matter of good and fit health or to loose weight and be in shape. Now most of the workout schedules are structured featuring an overall development and maintenance of the whole body. There are other sessions that involve particular parts of the body as per ones’ requirement.

Are you quietly reminding yourself that you generally find reasons to avoid exercises that involve the lower portion of your body or leg work out? I know I just felt the same. Well, let’s agree…leg work out routines take away all your energy and ground you to what we know as ‘hard work’. Unless you put in all your energy and exploit the best of your stamina your legs would not be worth taken a look.

The best leg workout should be more or less in the following sequence:

  • You have to begin with a warm up session. You could either choose to walk on the treadmill or something similar.
  • Next, your body needs to be given proper signal prior the workout that it is about to be involved in something aggressive. Stretch your body so this message is sent across and your body is ready to stand by you for the workout.
  • Yes, the correct method of doing an exercise is what will take you a long way. Make sure you have a straightened back, head up and have tightened your abdomen muscles. Most effectively this helps from getting injured.
  • In a leg work out separate sets for the thighs, inner thighs, hamstrings and calves should be done.
  • Elliptical Trainers, Treadmills, Home Gyms and Exercise Bikes are the most common and by far some of the best equipments for such workouts.
  • Extreme leg workouts are good, they do help achieve your fitness goals…but remember muscles need rest as well. If you work on them as a machine then likewise they need maintenance, servicing and after care. So make sure there is enough rest as required between every workout and you refill with a good protein shake each time.
  • Check that your workout has variations. This is good not only for the body, but for the mind as well.
  • The technical details can always be listed either speaking to your instructor or referring to fitness portals. Health magazines are a good reference as well.
  • Leg workout for runners is more structured and the trainers know exactly which program would suit you. Apart from the dumbbell, barbell, dead lifts and leg press, strength training is of far more importance.

Whatever the workout apparatus, technique or session may cover it is always good to know ‘why’ and ‘how’.