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Glossary of Exercise Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abduction	Any movement of a limb away from the centerline of the body. Example, lifting an extended straight arm away from your body.
Abs (abdominal muscles)	The abdominal (stomach) muscles are located on the sides and front of the lower torso. Please note that throughout this website exercises and stretches for the obliques and hip flexors are grouped with abs.
Adduction	Any movement of a limb towards the centerline of the body. Example, lowering an extended straight arm towards your side.
Aerobic	Aerobic workouts are exercises (such as running, biking, swimming) that are performed with the goal of sustaining increased heart rate and respiration levels.
Anabolic	A term used to describe the body's tendency to build or construct muscle tissue.
Back muscles	The group of muscles located on the back (posterior) of the upper body. The main functions of this muscle group are to pull the arm down and/or towards the body.
Barbell	A long metal bar (used for free weight training) on which weights are placed. The Olympic bar is a common variation of a standard barbell that weighs 44 lbs. ( 20kg. ) and has rotating sleeves that allow for wrist rotation.
Basic home equipment	A category of exercise equipment that can be purchased and easily used in most personal living spaces. For the purposes of this website the following equipment is considered 'basic home equipment': an exercise mat, Swiss ball, and dumbbells.
Biceps	The muscle on the front of the upper arm. Its main function is to move the forearm towards the shoulder (flex the elbow).
Buttocks muscles	The buttocks muscles run from the pelvis to the rear of the upper leg. The main function of this muscle group is to move the upper leg toward the rear of the body.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Cable pulley column	A category of exercise equipment where handles can be attached to the end of a cable (or belt), these cables are commonly connected through wheel pulleys to an adjustable weight stack for resistance.
Calves (calf muscles)	The muscles on the back part of the lower leg that function to raise/elevate the heel.
Catabolic	A term used to describe the body's tendency to breakdown muscle tissue.
Cheat reps	Cheat reps are extra repetitions performed near the end of a set (when the individual can no longer perform strict reps due to muscle fatigue) by deviating from strict form.
Chest muscles	The chest muscles are located on the front of the rib cage, these muscle fibers run across the chest in a fan-like structure.
Compound exercise	Exercises that extend or flex more than one joint and stimulate multiple muscle groups. The traditional squat is a good example because both the knees and hips are involved during the exercise.
Concentric	Used to describe the part of a repetition in which the muscle group works against gravity, usually contracting the muscle (such as lifting a weight). This part of a repetition is also commonly referred to as 'the positive'.
Delts	Short form for deltoid (shoulder) muscles. Refer to 'Shoulder muscles' for the description.
Drop sets	A set where you immediately decrease the resistance when muscle failure occurs and continue the set.
Dumbbell	A short metal bar with weights on each end, the bar is gripped with one hand between the weights.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Eccentric	Used to describe the part of a repetition in which the muscle group works with gravity, usually relaxing the muscle (such as lowering a weight). This part of a repetition is also commonly referred to as 'the negative'.
Exercises	A movement performed in repetition in order to develop, maintain or improve physical fitness.
Forced rep	A forced rep is a repetition performed with assistance from a spotter.
Forearms	The muscles of the lower arm (between the elbow and wrist).
Free weights	Free weights are a category of exercise equipment that is moved freely, as a complete unit, during the exercise (such as dumbbells and barbells).
Glutes	Short form for gluteus (buttocks) muscles. Refer to 'Buttocks muscles' for the description.
Hamstring muscles	The muscles on the back of the thigh (upper leg). The hamstrings main function is to move the lower leg towards the buttocks (flex the knee).
Home equipment	refer to Basic home equipment
Isolation exercise	Exercises that extend or flex one joint and therefore stimulate one muscle group. A bicep curl is a good example because the elbow is the only joint involved during the exercise.
Lats	Short form for latissimus dorsi (the largest muscle of the back) muscles. Refer to 'Back muscles' for the description.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Machines, exercise	Exercise machines are a category of exercise equipment that is not moved as a complete unit during the exercise. Exercise machines commonly (but not always) incorporate a stack of weight plates and the user can easily adjust the resistance level by moving the pin up or down the weight stack. Machines typically guide and limit the individual to a pre-defined range of motion.
Medicine ball	A heavy leather or rubber-covered ball usually six to twelve inches (15 to 30cm) in diameter. Medicine balls are a common piece of exercise equipment used for various exercises.
Negative	refer to eccentric
Neutral grip	Describes a grip when the palm of the each hand face one another.
Overtraining	Overtraining is any training/exercise that leaves the body unable to recuperate and repair itself often resulting in fatigue and under-performance.
Partial reps	Performing only part of the normal range of motion for a movement. Also referred to as half reps.
Pecs	Short form for pectoralis (chest) muscles. Refer to 'Chest muscles' for the description.
Positive	refer to concentric
Power Cage	A Power Cage is a piece of equipment designed to allow for a safe free weight workout using a barbell. Also commonly called a Squat Cage this piece of equipment has adjustable cross bars and hooks that are supported by a metal frame.
Pre-exhaustion	A technique where an isolation exercise is performed prior to a compound exercise in order to increase the blood flow and throughly warm-up the main muscle that will be worked during the compound exercise.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Program, exercise	A plan that outlines the exercises, order and details to be followed in order to progress toward achieving a fitness goal.
Pronated grip	Rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards during the exercise.
Quadriceps	The muscles of the front of the thigh (upper leg), their main function is to straighten (extend) the knee.
Rep (repetition)	Performing one complete range of motion for a movement.
Reps (repetitions)	The number of times that you complete a full range of motion (ie. a rep) during a set.
Set	A group of repetitions separated by a rest period.
Shoulder muscles	The muscle group that connects the upper arm to the torso/trunk of the body. This muscle is composed of three heads, commonly referred to as the front, medial and rear delt. Please note that throughout this website exercises and stretches for the rotator cuff are grouped with shoulders.
Smith Machine	A barbell that is constrained to move only vertically upwards and downwards.
Spotting	External support provided by someone else (the spotter) to assist the training person when they reach muscle failure.
Stretches	Stretches are positions that extend (and temporarily hold) one's limbs or body and cause muscles to be stretched. Stretches are commonly performed to increase blood circulation, maintain muscle elasticity and gradually improve flexibility.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Supersets	Two different exercises that are performed back to back with no rest period between them.
Supinated grip	Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces forward or upward during the exercise.
Swiss ball	An inflatable rubber ball usually two to three feet in diameter (60-90cm) used for support during exercises. They are also referred to as exercise balls or physio balls.
Traps (trapezius muscles)	Traps is a short form that is used for the trapezuis muscles of the upper back and neck area that run from the base of the skull down to the middle back.
Triceps	The muscles on the outside and back of the upper arm. Its main function is to straighten the arm (extend the elbow).
Upper Leg muscles	For the purposes of this website we have created a muscle group referred to as 'Entire Upper Legs'. We have done this because there are a large number of compound exercises that effectively stimulate multiple muscle groups of the upper legs. Many exercises in this group stimulate the quadriceps, hamstrings, buttocks and adductors (to varying degrees depending on the movement).