Five Muscles You're Probably Ignoring

Major muscles like your biceps, triceps and gluteus maximus are commonly a focus of everyday workouts. Given that there are over 650 muscles in the human body, it’s understandable that some may get less attention than others. But, that doesn’t mean these muscles are less important. We’ve created a list of five muscles you are probably ignoring in your workout routine as well as some exercises to target them.

Rotator Cuff

This commonly injured muscle is important for stabilizing your shoulder and guiding arm movements. When injured, everyday tasks like picking up your kids, grabbing groceries out of the car, or even driving can be affected. Avoid injury by incorporating these four exercises for strong shoulders into your routine. It’s a good way to ensure you are training all the muscles that surround your shoulder, which is the joint with the widest range of motion in the human body.

Obliques

Although the abdominals are a common target area in fitness, traditional crunches and ab movements don’t have an impact on your oblique muscles. These are the ab muscles that allow you to twist your mid-section, and are important because they can help reduce strain on your back when sitting for long periods of time. If you are working on increasing your core strength, follow this three-minute ultimate core workout made up of five simple exercises to reach those left and right oblique muscles.

Calves

Nobody strives to have “chicken legs,” but leg day is often seen as less important than days that you focus on your upper body. Many people know how to work their quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, but struggle to effectively target their calves. This quick calf workout is a great way to add definition, and should be combined with other leg-specific exercises for a well-rounded routine.

Rhomboids

If you sit at a desk all day, you know your posture can degrade over time. Muscles like your rhomboids help keep your back straight, and are used to pull your shoulder blades together. Upper body exercises that you perform while lying down, like a barbell press, do not adequately reach muscles like your rhomboids. That’s why it’s important to incorporate exercises like a standing dumbbell row to ensure you reach those important back straightening muscles.

Hip Muscles

Your hip muscles, also known as your gluteus medius, are important for hip stabilization when walking and running. They are also an important muscle when it comes to preventing ACL injuries, which are more likely to occur in women. These three exercises are a great way to tone and strengthen your hips, and should be a part of any booty building routine.

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