It may seem like stronger arms and shoulders are just for display, but they are not. Strengthening these muscles can help you move luggage while traveling, push doors open or pull them shut, or even pick up children or grandchildren. Perhaps you want to protect against bone loss or have an easier time swinging a pickleball racket. Whatever your goals are, strengthening your arms and shoulders can help you out.

For many years, dumbbells have been the go-to weight options for strengthening arms, shoulders, chest, back, and more. People still use dumbbells every day; just go to the gym and you’ll see them in action. Switching to a resistance or elastic band provides a more unique challenge for your muscles. Plus, you can use them whether you have a gym membership or not. 

Using a resistance band can help increase range of motion and resistance throughout the exercises you do. Dumbbells provide constant resistance, meaning the tension doesn’t change at any point during the exercise. Resistance bands offer variable resistance, so the level of difficulty varies depending on where you are in the given exercise. The more you stretch, the more tension your muscles have to overcome. If you are ready to test the waters of resistance and strengthen your arms and shoulders, engage in the following exercises. Just make sure that you do a quick five-minute warm-up before you start the exercises.

Banded Push-Up

Begin in a kneeling position on the floor, gripping both ends of the resistance band. Bring it over your head and behind your back, ensuring it is secure against your upper back. Place your hands flat on the floor in front of you so that they are directly beneath your shoulders. You can engage in kneeling push-ups, or extend your feet back to do regular push-ups. Once you step your feet back and enter a high plank position, you can begin your push-ups. Make sure to keep your elbows close to your body and core tight as you lower down. Engage your chest, shoulders, and triceps to press back up. Complete three sets of 10-12 reps. 

Overhead Tricep Extension

Start in a standing position and open the resistance band into a large loop. Step both feet on the bottom half, so that the band is under the arches of your feet. Grip the upper part of the band, keeping your hands together near your chest and palms facing forward. From here, press the band straight overhead. Slowly lower your hands behind your head until your forearms are parallel to the ground. Engage your triceps to straighten your arms, keeping your elbows close to the side of your head throughout. Complete three sets of 10-12 reps. 

Steeple Press

Start in a standing position just as you did in the previous exercise. Grip the upper half of the band in each hand, facing your palms up. Flip your palms down to roll the band around your hands. The more times you roll your hands around the band, the greater the resistance will be. Bring your hands together in a prayer position in the center of your chest. Keep your palms together as you press your arms overhead until they are fully extended. Pause for a second before returning them to the starting position. Complete three sets of 10-12 reps. 

Bow And Arrow

Begin in a standing position, holding the resistance band in front of your chest at shoulder height. Extend your arms out in front of you and keep your palms facing the floor, holding one end of the resistance band in each hand. Keep your right arm extended as you pull your left elbow straight back, squeezing your trap and lat. Hold and then release back to the starting position. Complete 10-12 reps and then switch sides. Complete a total of three sets, 10-12 reps per side.

Standing Bear Hugs

Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grab both ends of the resistance band and bring it over your head and behind your back. Secure the band against your upper back just under your shoulder blades. Extend your arms out to the sides and then press your arms forward and around an imaginary tree. Keep your palms facing down and elbows slightly bent throughout the exercise. Return to the starting position. Complete three sets of 10-12 reps.

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Even if you are not 85 years old, your 28-year-old back may say otherwise. The reality is that the vast majority of people are sedentary, regardless of age, which contributes to back problems. An even bigger reality is that back pain is a leading cause of work limitations, with chronic back problems affecting nearly 8% of American adults. Health care costs due to back pain exceed $12 billion per year!

When people think of back pain, the first image that comes to mind is an older adult hunched over. Perhaps they move slowly and have to sit down very carefully to avoid worsening the pain. Although the risk of lower back pain increases with age, it doesn’t sentence a person to a life without exercise. In fact, there are many types of physical activity that are beneficial for people with lower back pain, even if modifications are necessary. 

The 4 Best Exercises For Low Back Pain

A recent study found that certain workouts can alleviate lower back pain. The review study, which was published in Front Public Health, found tai chi, yoga, Pilates, and sling exercises to be the most beneficial at reducing low back pain. The review looked at 75 randomized controlled trials with more than 5,250 participants. That provided study review authors with a significant amount of data to consider. 

Study authors noted yoga and tai chi to be the most effective for pain management. You and core stabilization exercises yielded better improvement in physical functions compared to standard rehabilitation methods. The theme across the four different modes of exercise is mobility and flexibility. There is no need to focus on intense muscle gains and lifting heavy weights. On the contrary, those types of workouts can increase the pain or worsen the injury, especially if form is incorrect. Tai chi, believe it or not, can improve muscle strength, balance, and endurance without putting too much pressure on the lower back. 

Sling exercises, or bungee workouts, were of particular interest to study authors. The reason for that is because they are underrated for incorporating more movement into an older person’s lifestyle. They are usually more fun than cardio- or weight-based workouts, too! Sling exercises also activate the core muscle groups, which help improve balance and the ability to control the neuromuscular system. That ultimately enhances the stability of the lumbar spine (low back), while simultaneously improving its function. 

Summary

This study was very large, considering that it is quite niche. That said, researchers believe more large-scale studies on this matter will help people make better, more educated decisions about exercising with lower back pain. Knowing which exercises are the best if you have back pain is quite useful, especially if you don’t want to worsen the pain or injury. 

The exercises you choose to do will depend on the severity of the pain and overall mobility of the spine. How did your pain start and are there other concerns you have about exercising with that pain? Depending on the severity of the pain, you may require physical rehabilitation in conjunction with the exercises mentioned in this article. It’s not always about choosing one or the other, but rather incorporating different modalities to recovery as quickly as possible. 

Back pain, much like many things in life, is unique. The best exercise plan will depend on various factors, so it may be wise to consult your physician or physical therapist before adopting a specific routine. Lastly, your muscles and joints change with age, but there are ways to support strength in the long term. These exercises are a great stepping stone to help you get to pain-free movement.

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Everyone can use a little extra motivation from time to time, no matter if you are a conditioned athlete or just starting your workout journey. The problem is that people know they should exercise. The science is there and studies show that working out on a regular basis improves aspects of mental and physical health. Responsibilities of life and other engagements get in the way, though, making it difficult to have a self-imposed sweat. 

The problem is not working out; rather, the problem is making your workouts consistent. Committing to the process is a promise that you take your health seriously. How do you start working out consistently, though, especially if you are new to exercise? Exercise should hook you on its own, as it releases feel-good hormones, endorphins, that promote feelings of euphoria. If you don’t know where to begin, it’s best to analyze your personality and lifestyle habits. 

The problem many people face is fitting workouts into their life, which doesn’t work. You have to make your workouts work for you, and enjoying them is a must! Stay on track with your workouts by using the following tips and tricks. 

You’re Not Too Busy

Even the busiest people find time to exercise a few times per week, if not every day. Ultimately, you decide if exercise is a priority or not. The problem most people have is that they think a workout has to last 45-90 minutes, which simply isn’t true. There are many 10- or 15-minute workouts that are very effective. When you can break a sweat and feel the burn in a short amount of time, you can see how easy it is to workout every day. Everyone has 15 minutes to spare!

Make An Appointment

Mark your workouts down on a calendar, just as you would do for a teeth cleaning or a physical. Putting your workouts on your calendar can help you plan a consistent schedule. Instead of fitting your workouts in with other appointments, you’ll start scheduling other engagements around your workouts. This is the ultimate goal and it can take time to get there. To begin, set a goal to exercise three days per week, marking each day and time down on your calendar. You can increase workout time, difficulty, and frequency from there.

Find A Workout You Enjoy

This is the most important trick to establishing a consistent workout schedule. If you go to a gym and find that you don’t enjoy being there, you won’t go back. Then you’ll pay for a gym membership without using it. Find a workout that you enjoy and you’ll have the desire to go back. Some people prefer Pilates or yoga, while others enjoy spin class or CrossFit. Your workout can also consist of going surfing, biking, or playing pickup basketball. The possibilities are endless, so find your passion and you won’t have a problem working out regularly. 

Set Mini Goals

One mistake that can deter you from working out is setting unrealistic goals. If you set a goal to lose 15 pounds in two weeks, you probably won’t come back to the gym again. Instead, it’s better to set mini goals because they motivate you to keep progressing at a steady pace. If the big goal is reaching the top of a staircase, for example, mini goals are the steps that you have to climb to get there. Increase the length of your run by half a mile every week, or increase your rep count by two reps. Small goals help you get to where you want to go, and they keep you excited about and committed to working out. 

Pick Workouts You’re Good At

According to research, humans have a desire to be good at something. For this reason, sports psychologists recommend that people seek out things they both enjoy and are confident in doing. You can also pick a workout or activity that you want to get better at. The activity doesn’t have to be easy for you; rather, you should push yourself in terms of building endurance and muscle strength. If basketball excites you, then go play! If you have the desire to learn jiu-jitsu or kickboxing, get after it!

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Pilates is much more than a simple workout that improves flexibility. Although it was popularized by celebrities, Pilates is a workout that’s for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, size, ability, or specific fitness level. It’s a low-impact form of exercise that can help counteract a sedentary lifestyle, accelerate recovery, and even reduce anxiety.

What Is Pilates?

The Pilates repertoire includes over 600 exercises and variations, which you can perform on a mat or specialized equipment. It’s also a philosophy and style of exercise that encourages bodily alignment through balanced movements and breathing patterns. The creator, Joseph Pilates, developed the exercise body conditioning system in the 1920s. Initially, people in the dance community embraced it more than anyone, as it contributed to better strength, flexibility, and injury recovery. 

Nowadays, Pilates is a mainstream form of exercise that can benefit anyone from the office worker to professional athlete. It’s similar to yoga, in that it emphasizes mindful movements and breathing. It differs from yoga because it’s more anatomical and focuses on controlled movements and alignment, and less so on meditative aspects. Continue reading to learn how you can benefit from Pilates workouts.   

Improves Posture

As previously mentioned, Pilates focuses on postural alignment, and the movements encourage better posture. Many of the movements encourage abdominal, glute, and core strength, and these muscles help maintain correct posture. Strengthening these muscle groups also decreases joint and ligament tension in the neck and shoulders.

Increases Flexibility

As you progress through Pilates workouts, you slowly work to lengthen and stretch the muscles, improving range of motion in joints. There are not really contorted poses like there are in yoga, but lengthening the muscles helps the body flow more freely. That’s a realistic way of increasing flexibility without injury.

Strengthens The Core

Pilates emphasizes movements that involve the core, from which all movements stem. The core involves all of the surrounding muscles of the torso, which become pliable and supportive when strengthened. Having a strong core can decrease the risk of back and hip pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Improves Balance

When your core is strong, the body has an easier time carrying out automated processes, including balance. The core muscles are the output of the body’s balance system. The core is nearest the body’s center of gravity, so strengthening the body’s foundation, so to speak, helps to improve the balance system. 

Enhances Body Awareness

Exercise physiologists define body awareness as the body’s ability to sense action, movement, and location. You walk without thinking or scratch your head with your eyes closed. Enhancing body awareness directs your focus on the sensations that your body experiences, including pain, emotions, or comfort. Improving the body’s response time and awareness may prevent injuries and falls. 

Improves Sex Life

One of the main benefits of Pilates is that it helps to strengthen the pelvic floor. Additionally, you become more flexible and develop a stronger core the longer you engage in Pilates workouts. All of these things can make a roll in the hay more enjoyable. Improving pelvic floor strength and function can increase sexual pleasure. 

Reduces Stress

Many studies have proven that exercise increases endorphin production, which are feel-good neurotransmitters. The more endorphins you produce, the more stress you can relieve. Pilates is an excellent method of exercise that also incorporates breath control, which is another way to relieve stress in the moment. Balancing the body’s autonomic nervous system also helps to ease long-term symptoms of stress, including anxiety and depression. 

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In the latest episode of The Adventures of V-Man, Vinnie went to Zen Wellness LA to receive chiropractic care and somatic trauma therapy. Owned and operated by women, Zen Wellness LA is located in the neighborhood of Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA. The women at this facility offer a variety of services, including chiropractic care, somatic trauma therapy, prenatal massage, massage therapy, pediatric chiropractic, yoga, and pilates physical therapy. You can also experience infrared sauna, postpartum care, and purchase Usana supplements.

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