While the list below is a great starting point, it’s important to know that the “best” exercises for one person may be different for another person. Make sure to speak with your doctor or a qualified, certified personal trainer before starting any kind of new exercise routine. “Push-ups are my absolute favorite exercise for all genders and ages,” says Dr. Stallone. This exercise addresses upper body strength, core control, bone density and breath control when performed properly, she says.

Proud to be a featured expert and offer my fitness reccomendations for the 2024 Women's Health Fitness Awards! The 2024 fitness awards are all about the cream of the crop apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories that support your holistic fitness routine in the gym (or wherever you prefer to sweat). Making selections takes our entire family of editors, designers, and trusted trainers. We take into account personal sweat goals, lifestyles, body types, and backgrounds. Movement means something different to each of us—but we all agree that a good sweat changes our moods, productivity, muscles, and more.

Running offers a wide array of health benefits for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike. Running elevates your heart rate, strengthens the heart and improves blood pressure, which can lead to a reduced risk of heart disease. In fact, according to a 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, running can reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular-related death by up to 30% .

Bodybuilding is a sport that involves rigorous training and development of the body’s muscles through a combination of weightlifting, cardio and nutrition. “Bodybuilding is training with the goal of optimizing and maximizing muscle hypertrophy or increasing muscle size, which is different from training for strength, power development, endurance or any combination thereof,” explains Alan Joseph, a doctor of physical therapy and certified strength and conditioning specialist based in New York City.

The best natural muscle relaxer (and how much to use) depends on one’s individual preferences and response to the substance. There are many effective options, according to Dr. Graham, but consider the list of his favorites below. Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in almost all major metabolic and biochemical processes, including protein and nucleic acid synthesis, regulation of metabolic pathways, neurotransmission, neuromuscular function and regulation of cardiac rhythm.

Every upper body action depends on strong and stable shoulders—whether one is reaching to put something on a high shelf, carrying groceries, lifting children or doing a number of other daily tasks. Certain professions and sports require even more strength, mobility and stability throughout this joint, such as baseball and softball players, basketball players, house painters or contractors, and even physical therapists and chefs.

(Photo of Rachel Tavel, PT, DPT, CSCS) For many people, stretching exercises probably fall on the “things I should do but don’t” list. After all, it’s easy to forgo stretching, given all the other responsibilities that demand your time and attention. Here’s the thing: Stretching exercises come with some *serious* benefits for your health and fitness. Making it a regular part of your wellness routine can reduce your risk of injury, support you as you age, and help you relax (more on all this to come!). Ideally, you should be stret

Below are 10 exercises to help you strengthen your legs safely and effectively, according to Dr. Giordano. Keep in mind that each exercise can be modified by a fitness professional to be either more challenging or easier, as needed. If you have any medical conditions or physical limitations, consult with your health care provider or physical therapist before embarking on a new exercise routine. It’s also important to trust your body. If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

When people hear the term “arthritis,” they typically think of osteoarthritis (OA)—likely because it’s the most common form of arthritis, affecting 80% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 . According to Dr. Graham, OA is considered a degenerative disorder caused by trauma or age-related wear and tear on joints over time. “OA is most likely to affect weight-bearing joints, such as the knee, hip, lower spine or big toe, but it can also cause pain and stiffness in the thumb or finger joints.”

A shoe cannot cure plantar fasciitis, nor can it address the cause of this condition. However, Kuru shoes are designed to increase comfort and reduce pain (at least in the short term) for many people affected by plantar fasciitis.

(Featured expert for this piece.) Fitness trends come and go, but mobility training never goes out of style. In fact, trainers and physical therapists swear by it for good reason. Mobility comes with benefits like muscle activation, injury prevention, and decreased pain and tightness.

Often, people use whatever office chair is provided in the workplace, or if they’re at home, they use any chair that’s available, says Jacobs. But the key to finding a good office chair for back pain is identifying the one that works for you—and you don’t know it until you try it out.

Walking lunges have several benefits that can come in handy during the holidays. They get you moving, increasing the heart rate and promoting circulation, and they both stretch and strengthen the hips and legs. By aiding circulation, they help flush your muscles and organs with oxygenated blood, and that movement can help you keep warm if the winter weather has you shivering.

Finding the best shoes for plantar fasciitis—a condition involving pain near the heel—can be a challenge. It requires understanding what causes plantar fasciitis in the first place and getting to know your own feet. While it’s best to have a podiatrist or physical therapist do a personalized assessment of your movement patterns and your feet before buying a pair, we’ve narrowed down the list of options to help get you started.

Whether you’re working from home or in the office, you may be spending many hours sitting in an uncomfortable position, which can lead to discomfort and pain. Thankfully, any chair or workspace can be modified easily by adding a foot rest. A foot rest is any type of support for the feet that makes the sitting position more comfortable or ergonomic, meaning easier and more efficient for the body. Foot rests come in different shapes and sizes and at various price points.

To build muscle effectively, it’s important to have a basic resistance training plan. Victoria Sekely, a doctor of physical therapy, certified strength and conditioning specialist and run coach keeps it simple: “The best way to build muscle is to lift weights. Period.” To begin, keep in mind three primary factors that trigger hypertrophy: mechanical tension, muscle damage and metabolic response, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Exercise is important for older adults (age 65+) because being physically active makes it easier to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), including eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, getting into or out of a bed or chair and moving around the house or a neighborhood, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Physically active older adults are also less likely to fall, which can lead to serious injuries.

Founded in 2012, Doctor on Demand is an app-based service that offers medical care from the comfort of your home. It offers urgent care, behavioral healthcare, preventive healthcare and chronic care. Behavioral healthcare includes both psychiatry and psychotherapy, covering a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship and sleep issues, trauma, grief and postpartum depression.

With origins hailing from India, yoga has become a mainstay in Western culture, with roughly 80 million people practicing yoga in the United States alone. Due to its accessibility, approachability and modifiability, it’s easy to see why it continues to attract first-timers. Yoga comes in many forms. The variety of styles and the minimalist requirements for practicing yoga make it perfect for beginners. Combining breath, meditation and movement with physical postures, yoga offers an opportunity

You’re doing the work, you’re feeling the burn, but how long does it actually take to build muscle? Building muscle isn’t just a matter of showing up and working out however and whenever you want. Looking in the mirror doesn’t help either (sorry). You have to incorporate a few important strategies into your training regimen in order to trigger the physiologic response that leads to hypertrophy, the process that causes your muscles to grow.