subject: Many Uses Of The Medicine Ball [print this page] Fitness experts have become very creative in finding new ways to use the med ball. It is such a versatile piece of exercise equipment that it can be used in basically all kinds of training. It is especially useful in home gyms when used in circuit training programs. In these types of programs you are moving from one exercise to another in an attempt to get a complete workout. As you transition from one exercise to another, the medicine ball is the perfect complement to most of the other exercise equipment that you have.
Unlike in the past, you can find medicine balls in pretty much any sports store. Also known as med balls or fitness balls, they come in all sizes. Men tend to use the heavier ones as a complement to their weight building program. Women tend to use the lighter ones in conjunction with their fitness routines.
The medicine ball is a common fixture in many sports and training programs across the U.S. And that's because it is such a versatile piece of equipment. For example, most sports usually require that the athlete be capable of explosive actions. This means that the muscles must be able to contract and the nerves must be able to react at a fast pace. One way of training these muscles and nerves to do just that is to have the athlete perform plyometrics exercises. These exercises are designed to train the muscles to use their power in bursts of rapid explosions.
For instance, weight lifters and body builders have worked hard to train their muscles to be very powerful and to lift enormous weights. But, the sport of weight lifting, does not require that the athlete be fast.
But with athletes like foot ball players, the goal is a bit different. Especially for those that play on the offensive and defensive lines. Like weight lifters, they are required to have a lot of strength. And they all perform weight lifting to build up that strength. But, football players are also required to have explosive speed when coming off of the ball or trying to get to the opposing quarterback.
Trainers build exercises utilizing the medicine ball in an effort to assist in building that explosive speed. A football player who trains with weights but without the medicine ball, or a piece of equipment that does the same function, would surely be strong and powerful. But he would most likely be too slow to play in the NFL.
Those who have managed to put together their own home gym, will find that the medicine ball has so many potential uses in exercise routines that it can legitimately be considered as a core piece of fitness equipment. This is especially true if you play sports. The endurance and strength that you will need for many sports can only be helped by integrating a medicine ball into your training routine.
