Just because you are grinding it out in the gym, doesn’t mean you are doing your workout right.
Most gym-goers use the ‘bigger is better’ philosophy in their workout program. The bigger the equipment, the better it can train muscles. Unfortunately, that does not apply to every muscle groups as some of them does not require bigger gym tools to strengthen.
Aside from the biceps, glutes, quads, and lats, here are some of the essential muscle parts you also pay attention in your workout. Prepare your best workout accessories and start working on these following muscle groups for a better and stronger body.
1. Deep Cervical Flexors
These muscles may sound unfamiliar to many, but they are critical in maintaining a proper head positioning. These deep cervical flexors are usually found in the neck and have two main components, namely the Longus Colli and Longus Capitis.
You need to pay attention to these muscles because they are crucial in enhancing the head position and cervical alignment. People who work at the office usually have weaker cervical flexors because of spending long hours in front of the computer. In this case, the head is in a forward or leaning position while the chin is tilt upwards, increasing the chances of chronic neck pain. One of the most effective neck strengthing exercises to solve weak cervical flexors is chin tuck.
2. Lateral Ankle Stabilisers
People with weak ankles become more prone to injuries if they force their body to lift more weight. Three of the most important muscles that make the ankles stronger are the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis in the lateral part and the tibialis posterior in the medial.
At most times, they work as ankle stabilizers to limit the movements in this joint in activities that require the use of legs. To strengthen the stability in your ankle, try performing single leg exercises to improve balance and strength.
3. Grip Strength
Our hands are the most used body parts every day. Therefore it is best to exercise and enhance the strength and power of your grip. According to studies, those who have strong grips tend to be healthier and can live longer. It can also indicate if someone has risks of diseases in the future.
Keeping the hands strong is important, especially if you are engaged in weight training. To improve its strength, there are various exercises you can try such as ball squeeze, dumbell rotation, gripper exercise, and static barbell hold.
4. Intrinsic Foot Muscles
Many forms of activities require the movements of the feet especially a cardio workout. Our feet serves as the foundation of the body so it is essential to keep them sharp.
By enhancing the intrinsic foot muscles, you can stay long in a workout as it increases the strength of the arch. You will have pronated foot if these arches collapse. And when the feet weaken, the rest of the body will perform poorly. To maintain the alignment of the intrinsic muscles, try doing an exercise like foot doming.