Parallettes are small
gymnastics
Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...
devices, employed in pairs, used primarily to simulate the
parallel bars
Parallel bars are floor apparatus consisting of two wooden bars approximately long and positioned at above the floor. Parallel bars are used in artistic gymnastics and also for physical therapy and home exercise. Gymnasts may optionally wear ...
that can be found in professional
gymnasiums
A gym, short for gymnasium (: gymnasiums or gymnasia), is an indoor venue for exercise and sports. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasion". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learn ...
. Parallettes are similar to push-up bars or
dip bar
A dip bar is a piece of fitness equipment that consists of a U-shaped bar, usually about in diameter, which surrounds the user's body at the waist. It is designed for the performance of, and named after, the dip exercise.
In addition to this ex ...
s, but they are generally longer than the former and lower to the ground than the latter.
Aside from their appeal as equipment for gymnasts, parallettes are also appropriate for other athletes who wish to develop strength by means of bodyweight exercises.
Typical exercises done on parallettes include
L-sit
The L-sit is an acrobatic body position in which all body weight rests on the hands, with the torso held in a slightly forward-leaning orientation, with legs held horizontally so that each leg forms a nominal right-angle with the torso. The righ ...
s, V-sits,
planche Planche may refer to:
* Planche (exercise), a bodyweight exercise
* James Planché (1796–1880), British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms
* Jean Baptiste Gustave Planche (1808–1857), French art and literary critic
* La Planche, a village ...
style holds, handstand presses, and
handstand pushup
The handstand push-up (press-up) - also called the vertical push-up (press-up) or the inverted push-up (press-up), also called "commandos" - is a type of push-up exercise where the body is positioned in a handstand. For a true handstand, the exer ...
s.
Body weight is always supported on the hands, but some parallette exercises are excellent core and leg strengtheners as well.
Although parallettes can be purchased from a number of commercial sources, they are simple to fabricate from commonly available materials such as
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride (alternatively: poly(vinyl chloride), colloquial: vinyl or polyvinyl; abbreviated: PVC) is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene). About 40 million tons o ...
pipe. Consequently, both professional and home gyms will often utilize low-cost, "homemade" parallettes.
See also
*
Gymnastic ring
The rings, also known as still rings (in contrast to flying rings), is an artistic gymnastics apparatus and the event that uses it. It is traditionally used only by male gymnasts due to its extreme upper body strength requirements. Gymnasts often ...
s
References
{{Reflist
External links
PDF instructions for homemade parallettes
Gymnastics apparatus