If you have ever walked through a fitness center and wondered what those small, heavy balls were for, you are missing a valuable workout tool.
A medicine ball is about 14 inches in size and is weighted, often varying from 2 to 25 pounds in weight. The use of medicine balls has actually existed since ancient Greece, when the physician Hippocrates would have animal skins filled with sand and sewn shut. He would then have his patients hold and toss the balls to help injured muscles repair and heal.
Medicine balls have continued to be popular through time and are often used in strength training, specifically for the core abdominal muscles. Athletes can hold and lift the ball or move it in different directions while doing various exercises. The weight of the medicine ball acts like a free weight, stressing the muscles and forcing them to tear down so that they can rebuild and be bigger in size. When athletes hold the medicine ball further away from the body, the more the muscles are strained and thereby strengthened.
Most medicine balls are made out of vinyl or leather and filled with sand, steel shot or other material to add weight to the ball. Some medicine balls have handles or ropes attached, while others do not.
When it comes to medicine balls, one of the best kinds on the market is the Revgear leather medicine ball. This leather medicine ball is available in 9, 12, 15 and 20-pound sizes. Each ball is specifically designed to fit easily into hands of all sizes. The Revgear leather medicine ball is 100 percent leather and is triple stitched to ensure durability and functionality for a long time to come.
It is recommended that athletes purchase several sizes to incorporate into their workouts to prevent muscle boredom and growth plateaus. In addition, various weights work better with different workouts. For example, you can use the medicine ball to do weighted sit ups to increase your core strength, which will help in generating more power in your punches and kicks.
