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Fitness

Working different muscle groups

Different kinds of exercises work different muscle groups. You should try to work all of your muscles each week. Some exercises work many muscles, so this is not as hard as you might think!

Below is a list of exercises and the kinds of muscles used for each exercise, if you do the exercise correctly:

Exercise

Muscles Worked

Push-ups

Chest, shoulders, arms, abdominals

Sit-ups

Abdominals

Jumping Jacks

Calves (lower leg), inner/outer thigh, butt

Running

Calves, front/back thigh, abdominals

Jumping rope

Calves, thighs, abdominals, shoulders, arms

Swimming

Nearly all major muscles

Dancing

Nearly all major muscles (depending on type of dance)

Walking

Arms, calves, front/back thigh, abdominals

Squats

Calves, front/back thigh, butt

Inline Skating

Inner/outer thigh, butt

Hula Hoop

Lower back, abdominals


 

SOURCE: American Council on Exercise

 

Content last updated October 09, 2009

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health.

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