Medicine balls, also known as "med balls," are weighted balls about 14 inches in diameter and available in weights ranging from two to 25 pounds. They can be used for strength and agility training, physical therapy and injury rehabilitation, and fat-burning interval exercises. Medicine balls are also particularly valuable for training the core, as well as the shoulders and lower body.

Medicine ball training is an "old school" form of exercise that's making a big comeback. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates stuffed animal skins with sand so his patients could toss them back and forth. Today, medicine balls are generally covered in leather, vinyl or polyester. Firm medicine balls are ideal for resistance training, while the softer, polyester-covered models are great for throwing, catching, bouncing and partner exercises.

Medicine ball training is ideal for both beginners and advanced exercisers because the weight of the ball can be scaled to participants' fitness levels. Lighter medicine balls -- four, six and eight pounds -- are the best option for partner exercises like one-arm throws, chest passes, overhead throws and rotations. A 10- or 12-pound ball can be used for sit-ups, squats and lunges in place of dumbbells, and may even be more effective in getting toned than using dumbbells or weight machines.

Check out these 10 cool exercises with medicine balls for easy ways to incorporate medicine ball training into your workout routine.

When I found out I was getting to try the AlterG "anti-gravity" treadmill developed by NASA -- I think I told everyone I knew. Several times. The AlterG works by pumping air into a chamber that surrounds your body from the waist down. This increases the air pressure and that, in turn, lifts you up so that your feet feel less of your weight as you walk or run. Bring the pressure up enough and it's almost like walking in space. Pretty cool, right?

If you're in decent shape, and are just looking for a standard cardio, muscle-building session, there's not a ton of payoff to this contraption. The more body weight you carry when you exercise, the more burn and benefit you get, so removing weight without some purpose actually makes your workout less effective. However, if you've had a back or leg injury -- reducing your body's impact on the ground can alleviate that hurt. This means you can keep yourself in shape and slowly build back strength in a safe and non-painful way. (Indeed, the AlterG is being used in hospitals to help spinal cord injury patients retrain their bodies for movement.)

Additionally, if you're an athlete training for an endurance race like a marathon or triathlon, not only does the machine reduce the likelihood of stress-related injury, you can also use it to increase your speed and build up your non-dominant muscles. I found the reason for this fascinating: When we're responsible for less body weight, it's easier to loosen up and extend our stride, which increases the range and distribution of muscles we use. This, in turn, will translate to better performance back in the "real world." (Interestingly, the product's press materials say that overweight people can also benefit; it protects joints from weight-related stress, they may be able to work out for longer intervals.)

Maria Sharapova has been incredibly successful in her tennis career, especially considering she's only 21 years old. However, she's currently facing a new challenge -- staying fit while injured.

The tennis star was unable to compete in the Beijing Olympics and will sit out the U.S. Open due to a shoulder injury, and while she's undergoing physical therapy, she's doing plenty of cross-training to ensure she's ready to hit the court as soon as she's able. She told Shape magazine, "I've been walking hills a lot and biking a little outdoors. I don't do heavy weights at all. I go to yoga classes and work on my core."

Sharapova also revealed that she doesn't rely on dieting to keep her 6'2" frame so svelte. The surprisingly low-key looker, whose biggest beauty basic is wearing sunscreen, simply tries to eat healthfully, and indulges in her favorite junk foods in moderation. Obviously, it's working for her! Check out the gallery to see her looking fabulous on and off the court!

Source

A recent study divided Parkinson's patients into two groups. One group took a basic exercise class, while the other took tango lessons. After 20 lessons, both groups had improved their mobility. But the tango class also showed a greater improvement in balance than the exercise group. Researchers believe that several aspects of the tango may have been beneficial to the group, including walking backward and moving at different speeds.

Not only did the tango class improve their balance, but dance class participants reported a better quality of life. Though some were initially nervous about learning to dance, they came to enjoy the social aspect of their therapy routine.

Source

It seems like science fiction, but fully-functioning bionic body parts may soon be a reality. DARPA, an organization within the Defense Department, is on track to create a bionic arm that works just as well as a real one made from flesh and blood -- as early as 2009.

The first prototype DARPA created was already a revolution. Instead of merely grasping objects, the bionic limb gave it's user direct sensory feedback -- meaning that the user felt the sensation of grip, as if he still had a hand full of nerve receptors. This allows for incredibly precise actions -- like putting a coin into a slot.

Now there's a new arm in the works -- called Proto 2 -- that promises to be faster, stronger and more flexible, while providing additional sensory feedback, such as limb position and temperature.

I remember watching The Six Million Dollar Man on TV when I was a kid, thinking "that's impossible!" Now, 20 years later, we seem to be approaching that reality. Amazing.

Source

The more I read about the Wii, the more I think it's next in line for a Nobel prize. Video games started out as a fun way to kill spare time, but Nintendo's latest incarnation has been found to have a variety of ancillary benefits, including helping people burn calories and lose weight.

Most recently, a Canadian hospital has been using the device to treat people with movement and balance issues. By playing the system's virtual sports games, patients who were previously confined to wheelchairs were up and about -- landing punches, swinging golf clubs, or bowling strikes.

It's not as if doctors didn't already have methods for physical rehabilitation, but because these games are so much more fun than older rehab techniques, patients are much more likely to engage in their therapy, and recover quickly.

[via Geeksugar]

Source

Pregnancy can be difficult, and sometimes very delicate. In the event that extended periods of bed rest become necessary, experts at the American Physical Therapy Association are now suggesting women should still work on safe and specially-designed types of physical activity. Bed rest often leads women to lose strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the upper and lower body, not to mention decreased cardiovascular health a host of other issues.

There are no specific exercises in the article because they should be individualized for each expectant mother. If you and your doctor decide that bed rest is a necessity for you, ask about seeing a physical therapist and having a specialized bed rest exercise plan designed for you and your needs.

Source

Individualized "yoga therapy" is becoming more and more popular across the country as a means of treating injuries and different types of pain. Although traditional yoga classes are an excellent form of physical activity, people with specific issues often find the group setting doesn't meet their individual needs. Meeting one on one with a yoga instructor who can tailor a series of moves just for you can work wonders. Yoga therapy is just starting to become popular in the U.S., although it's fairly commonplace over in India.

Be cautious, however, and consult with your doctor on an ongoing basis. There is no national credentialing system for yoga therapy, which leaves the door open for real weirdos to call themselves experts. A good rule of thumb is that most reputable yoga therapists will have other credentials, perhaps in physical therapy or another aspect of the medical field like nursing.

Source

Virtual reality surfing and jogging is being used to help physiotherapy patients regain their balance and, in some cases, find the confidence to walk again.

A new system developed by MOTEK, an Israeli motion simulation company, allows technicians to modify the size of the waves and the wind speed as they put patients through their paces on an imaginary ocean.

While this marks the first time this particular system has been used in medical treatments, virtual reality has been utilized by doctors for some time. It's used to help patients overcome phobias by simulating the feared experience, to aid combat soldiers in overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder, or even to distract patients undergoing chemotherapy.

So far, the MOTEK system seems to be producing better and faster results. However, it's important to note that virtual reality cannot replace the healing process, only assist it.

Source

Approximately 250,000 people opt for surgery each year for sciatica, but two new studies say it might not be any more effective than other non-invasive treatments. Sciatica is severe backpain caused by a herniated or bulging disc of cartilage in the spine that presses on a nerve. It often radiates down into the legs and makes walking difficult.

The two studies followed a total of over 1200 patients, and both showed little difference in physical functioning or reported pain levels two years after having either surgery or non-invasive treatments like physical therapy and pain medications. One of the studies did show surgery to be more immediately effective than other treatments, but when the two year assessment period had passed both approaches had evened out.

Dr. James Weinstein of Dartmouth Medical School seems to have summed it up pretty good by saying "If you don't want the risk of surgery, you can do watchful waiting" and still get better. It's always nice to have options!

Source

The magical Cirque du Soleil touring circuses require their performers to do more than 350 shows a year. The resident shows in Las Vegas ask even more - about 475 per year.

All that activity means a lot of tired muscles and injuries. So Cirque du Soleil has hired a legion of physical therapists and massage therapists to bring the life back to bodies contorted, twisted, crumpled and stretched for audience enjoyment. Massage Magazine reports in its October 2006 issue that the performers see massage therapy as a necessary means to make it through their grueling schedule of shows.

The gymnasts most often suffer shoulder-and-wrist inflammation. Jugglers have spinal issues and neck tension. Acrobats and dancers get low-back spasms and injuries in the pelvic region. Trampoline performers have a lot of problems, from sprained ankles to dislocations. Even the musicians suffer from tightness in the upper back. And contortionists? Do you even have to ask? They hurt everywhere.

Source

Workouts getting boring? Interested in trying something really new in your workouts?

Well, here's the Bodywall.

Bodywall is a stick-um velcro-like wall that allows you to do Spiderman poses. But the people at the Bodywall website say you can also use it for strength training and injury rehabilitation.

Source