Good Medicine? The Benefits of Medicine Ball Training
Remember when you were a kid and you bounced rubber balls for fun? You still can. Medicine balls – those hefty, weighted balls you may have seen in the gym and possibly been baffled by – are perfect for playful, purposeful fitness.
From overhead slams to Russian twists, medicine balls are wonderfully versatile workout accessories. The health benefits of medicine balls were touched on almost 3,000 years ago. It seems our ancestors were definitely onto something…
Five reasons to use a medicine ball
Medicine ball benefit #1: Body-building brilliance
These spherical weights are muscle-enhancing wonders and there are countless exercises you can do to achieve a tantalisingly sculpted body. Medicine balls are particularly good at progressing your power and conditioning, with explosive moves such as slams that strengthen all of your muscle groups. If you’re a beginner, start off with a lighter weight and gradually work your way up as you progress – our skilled personal trainers can help you pick out the perfect ball for your goals.
Medicine ball benefit #2: Functional movements
There’s a reason one of the oldest exercise tools exists in hi-tech gyms – it works. From squatting with a med ball to throwing one off a wall, every exercise replicates natural movements. As well as pushing your heart rate and sculpting muscles from all angles, you’ll make day-to-day activities easier. Think about it – picking up a heavy object from the ground, carrying shopping home, throwing a ball for the dog – all of these require the same energy and muscles it takes to shift a medicine ball from A to B.
Medicine ball benefit #3: Coordination and balance
Top-performing athletes train with medicine balls. The fitness tools boost the speed and accuracy of movements, improving awareness and perception of your body’s stance and positioning. Med balls are also used for rehabilitation and strength training, which can be particularly beneficial in older adults who may be prone to falling. As we age, we’re more at risk of losing coordination and balance. As always, prevention is better than the cure – so keep your body as tip-top as it was when you were knee-high and you can’t go wrong.
Medicine ball benefit #4: Core strength
Many boxers practice receiving blows to the stomach using medicine balls. They’ll lie on the floor, abs tensed, while a workout partner drops the ball onto their stomach. The weight and versatility of this workout tool enable you to practice everything from chest twists to sit-ups, grasping the solid weight for a body-blitzing crunch. Stomach muscle glory.
Medicine ball benefit #5: Optimal fitness
Revved-up medicine ball workouts reward you with the holy trinity of exercise benefits: strength, endurance and athleticism. Those blissful endorphins get to work on your mood and mind, while the increased calorie burn and body-toning moves keep your muscles guessing and growing. It’s an all-around, dynamic workout that boosts your performance and overall fitness with three-dimensional movements.
Whatever your level of fitness, you can adapt medicine ball training to fit your goals. We’ll help you reap the benefits above, whether you need a personal trainer to assist you with load, speed, reps, form, ball type or amount of sets, or simply want a beautiful space to slam med balls yourself. EVO clubs are a dream workout environment: see them for yourself.
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