Medicine balls are weighted tools designed to add resistance or difficulty to existing fitness routines, or to help strengthen your core in targeted exercises.
Medicine balls come in a variety of different sizes, from a softball size that can weigh 2 pounds to a standard basketball size weighing 14 pounds. Some exercise balls can be 36 inches in diameter, or beach ball size, and may weigh as much as 50 pounds.
The outer shell of medicine balls vary as well, being made of nylon, vinyl, leather, dense rubber, polyurethane or other types of materials. Inside the ball the weighted material can consist of gel, sand, or air. The more traditional medicine ball surface has a tacky surface for an easier grip.
There are two basic categories of a medicine ball; either they bounce on impact or they don’t.
A ‘live’ medicine ball usually has a hard shell and air inside. This provides a weighted ball that will rebound when it is thrown against a hard surface such as the wall or floor. This is helpful for the type of exercise in which the user wants the ball to quickly return to their hands, creating quicker reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and hand-strength.
A ‘dead’ medicine ball is not inflated with air and does not bounce at all. They usually have a softer exterior and are used for physical strength exercises, and tend to be more durable.
Medicine balls are perfect accessories for any fitness routine. They can be great to add resistance to core exercises, are perfect for use in strength training, and can be an excellent addition to a full-body workout through the ever-popular wall slam.
Often used in sports training, these balls are a great solution for athletic training and general fitness alike.