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Medicine balls add creative ways to exercise
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The
March 18 Wellness Wednesday, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the
Children’s Hospital lobby, will feature the medicine ball and ways to
use it to improve upper body exercises.
by April Taylor
MUSC Wellness Center
While the origins appear to date nearly 3,000 years ago, medicine-ball
training remains a viable and effective workout. We have come a long
way from Persian wrestlers training with sand-filled animal bladders.
The modern medicine ball took shape largely from the sand-stuffed
animal skins of Hippocrates who used them for rehabilitation. They are
used for the same purpose today: to train the professional athlete,
injury rehabilitation, and general fitness.
Medicines balls are available in an assortment of weights, generally
about 2-25 pounds. Some even have attached handles or ropes to allow
individuals to perform a greater variety of exercises. A versatile
fitness tool, they can be used by most ages and fitness levels. Many
medicine ball exercises may be done with a partner. Medicine balls can
be used to add additional weight to squats, lunges, leg lifts,
crunches, and many other exercises. Upper body exercises also can be
done with a medicine ball.
A medicine ball allows individuals to work on core strength, stability,
stamina and functional movements. If you’ve seen them in the store or
at the gym and wondered how they can fit into your workout routine,
stop by the Wellness Wednesday table in the Children’s Hospital lobby
on March 18 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A personal trainer from the MUSC
Wellness Center will be available to answer your questions, as well as
provide sample exercises.
Health 1st sponsored events
- Smoking
cessation classes: Interested in quitting? We want to help you succeed
with a series of six free classes. Call 792-1245 for more information.
- Worksite
screenings: Subscribers of the State Health Plan, BlueChoice/Companion,
and Cigna can receive a thorough preventive health screening on campus.
The screening includes height, weight, blood pressure; and blood will
be drawn for a blood chemistry profile, hemogram, and blood lipid
profile. In most health care settings this screening is valued at $200,
but will be available to you for $15. The next monthly screening will
be April 23 at Harborview Office Tower. To sign up call 792-9959, or http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st, and click on Worksite Screening Appointment.
- Mammogram:
This is a convenient way to have your mammogram. The Hollings Cancer
Center Mobile Van will parked by the Basic Science Building loading
dock from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14. Walk-ins are welcome, but
appointments are encouraged (call 792-0878).
- Farmers market: Get your fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Horseshoe every Friday.
- National Start! Walking Day: Join us for National Start Walking Day April 8 in the Horseshoe. More details to follow.
- Health
1st Newsletter: Pick up a copy of the March/April Health 1st Healthy
Habits Newsletter at the Harper Student Wellness Center or in the
Health 1st literature rack on your way to the main hospital cafeteria.
Editor's
note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st.
Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee
wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column
seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful
information concerning all aspects of health.
Friday, March 13, 2009
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