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Exercisers designed primarily to facilitate the physical exertion of body muscles by voluntary contraction and relaxation of large muscle groups (i.e., active exercisers) that are intended primarily to provide resistance to muscular contraction for development of muscular strength and endurance. The resistance to muscular contractions may be provided by gravity using free weights or constrained weights, pneumatic, or hydraulic resistance mechanisms, elastic resistance, or other sources. These exercisers are intended to improve the strength in the upper limb (arm, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand), trunk (chest, back, abdomen), and the lower limb (buttock, thigh, calf, ankle, foot) muscles; as a result they may increase muscle size, endurance, and power and improve bone density. Muscle strength exercisers, like all exercisers, may also improve flexibility and balance in particular parts of the body (e.g., upper, lower). A variety of dedicated muscle strength exercisers are available, such as free weights (e.g., dumbbell, barbell), weight machines, and elastic bands and/or hydraulic devices.
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