When it comes to working out, it’s easy to focus on the big muscle groups like the chest, back, and legs. However, neglecting other body parts can lead to imbalances, weakness, and injury.
In this article, we’ll be discussing four body parts you might be forgetting to train, and why you shouldn’t.
1. Forearms
Strong forearms are essential for grip strength, which is important in many activities like lifting weights, rock climbing, and even typing.
Neglecting to train your forearms can lead to weaker grip, which can limit your strength gains in other exercises.
Additionally, weak forearms can result in imbalances that can lead to injury, particularly in the wrists.
By including forearm exercises like wrist curls, farmer’s walks, and grip squeezes in your routine, you can strengthen your forearms and improve your grip strength.
2. Calves
Another body part that often gets overlooked is the calves. While some people may believe that calves are purely cosmetic, strong calves can actually improve your athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury.
The calves are responsible for ankle stabilization and shock absorption, which is important in activities like running, jumping, and landing. Weak calves can lead to ankle sprains, shin splints, and other lower leg injuries.
To train your calves, try exercises like calf raises, jump rope, and box jumps. By strengthening your calves, you can improve your athletic performance and reduce the risk of lower leg injuries.
3. Rear Delts
Most people are familiar with the front and side delts, but the rear delts often get neglected. However, strong rear deltoids are important for maintaining healthy posture and preventing shoulder injuries.
The rear delts are responsible for pulling the shoulders back and down, which helps to counteract the effects of hunching over a desk or phone. By strengthening your rear delts, you can improve your posture and reduce the risk of shoulder injuries.
Try exercises like face pulls, reverse cable flies, and bent-over lateral raises to target your rear delts. Adding these exercises to your routine can help you maintain healthy posture and prevent shoulder injuries.
4. Glutes
Finally, many people neglect to train their glutes, which can lead to imbalances and weakness in the hips and lower back. Strong glutes are essential for proper hip and spinal alignment, which is important for overall health and athletic performance.
Additionally, weak glutes can lead to compensations in other muscles, which can lead to injuries. For example, weak glutes can lead to overcompensation in the lower back muscles, which can lead to low back pain.
To train your glutes, try exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges, and hip thrusts. By strengthening your glutes, you can improve your hip and spinal alignment, reduce the risk of injury, and improve your athletic performance.
Conclusion
While it’s easy to focus on the big muscle groups, neglecting other body parts can lead to imbalances, weakness, and injury.
By including exercises for forearms, calves, rear delts, and glutes in your workout routine, you can improve your overall strength and reduce the risk of injury. So next time you hit the gym, don’t forget about these important body parts!.