Research on physical activity and how it affects health. Covers running and step counts, disease risk reduction, fitness tracking, and exercise physiology.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine studied 2,000 participants and found dedicated exercise was three times more efficient than walking alone in improving fitness. Higher steps/day and exercising time could partially offset the negative effects of being sedentary.
A new study published in the Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity found that functional imagery training (FIT) significantly reinforced a person's motivation to complete a challenging goal. FIT, developed at the University of Plymouth, teaches people new ways of thinking about their immediate future to help them s...
A study published in Current Rheumatology Reviews found that rehabilitation exercises significantly improved functional strength and reduced weight in knee osteoarthritis patients. The researchers also noted an increase in exercise adherence among the rehabilitation group compared to the control group.
A study found that girls in secondary school are less motivated by traditional fitness tests, which often involve running and measuring heart and lung performance. To address this issue, experts recommend new teaching strategies and online interventions like exergames to promote healthy lifestyle habits.
A systematic review of online interventions found that exergames and smartphone apps increased physical activity levels and improved emotional states among young people. The study suggests a positive impact on mental health and social development through digital mediums.
A new study published in the Journal of Gerontology finds that engaging in diverse daily activities is associated with a diverse set of emotions. Individuals who regularly participated in a broad range of activities experienced more diverse positive emotions, particularly those between ages 33-44.
A new study asked over 470 firefighters about their recovery methods in extreme heat, finding that simple strategies like finding shade and drinking water are often used. The research suggests potential for better cooling and recovery protocols to improve firefighter safety and performance.
A new study found that increasing childhood cardiorespiratory fitness can reduce the adverse effects of metabolic syndrome traits on atherosclerosis. The researchers discovered a two-way connection between arterial health and fat mass, with healthy arteries associated with higher fat mass in children.
A study found that transcranial stimulation can increase the benefits of aerobic exercise and improve gait in Parkinson's patients. The treatment uses a weak current delivered by electrodes placed over specific brain regions, activating the pre-frontal cortex.
A new WVU study found that psychological capital, including self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resiliency, can help employees cope with the stress of working during a pandemic. Workers who used adaptive coping strategies fared better, but those relying on maladaptive behaviors experienced higher levels of stress.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that college students who were physically active before starting university remained so, while those with low motivation to exercise gained significant weight. The researchers recommend teaching children the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits.
A mathematical model developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge can predict the optimum exercise regime for building muscle. The model takes into account individual physiology and optimizes exercise regimes based on user input, promising to maximize athletes' potential.
A recent study found that regular physical exercise modulates iron homeostasis in both the brain and skeletal muscle of mice with Alzheimer's disease. The results suggest that IL-6 is a key modulator of hepcidin in exercise-induced brain iron modulation, which may help explain why exercise is beneficial for AD prevention or treatment.
A novel approach to improve fitness for surgery, known as 'prehabilitation', has been shown to reduce cancer patients' hospital stay by 1.8 days compared to standard care. This study suggests that prehabilitation can benefit patient outcomes and potentially confer a survival advantage.
A recent study published in European Heart Journal: ESC heart failure shows that increased oxidative stress during exercise adversely affects heart failure prognosis. Tailoring exercise therapy to individual patients based on their level of oxidative stress may be more effective than conventional exercise therapies.
A new study from WashU Medicine found a strong association between high physical activity and maintaining cognitive function among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. The research suggests that moderate to vigorous exercise may help ward off 'chemo brain,' a decline in cognitive function common during cancer treatment.
A new UBCO study determines that wearable technology and telehealth can tailor treatment plans for Parkinson's disease by identifying peak times of symptoms. The research found positive experiences and health outcomes for patients using wearable devices in combination with telehealth appointments.
A study of 1800 Japanese citizens aged 65 found that low weight and insufficient exercise are significant risk factors for sarcopenia. Those with possible sarcopenia exhibited higher degrees of frailty despite normal Specific Health Checkup results, highlighting the need for a test to identify sarcopenia early on.
Research found that longer and more frequent night shifts increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease. Genetic predisposition did not affect the link between night shifts and AF risk.
A large study of 384,130 adults found that regular exercise lowers the risk of death from natural causes, regardless of air pollution exposure. Habitual exercise and low pollution levels were associated with lower mortality rates, while inactivity and high pollution were linked to higher risks.
Researchers found that stiffness is the most problematic characteristic of spasticity after spinal cord injury, affecting daily life and function. Non-pharmacological interventions such as stretching and exercise are more effective than medications in managing symptoms.
A new study by the University of Leeds and Northumbria University found that playing professional football games without fans significantly reduced home teams' success. Home teams scored fewer goals and accumulated fewer points when crowds were absent, with an average of 0.15 goals more scored than away teams.
Researchers found that weighted restraint significantly decreases lung reserve volume and increases breathing effort during recovery from exercise. The study's findings suggest that prolonged application of weighted restraint could pose a threat to the subject's survival.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered that exercise promotes the formation of thin blood capillaries in muscles by stimulating cell division of endothelial cells with high levels of ATF4. These 'metabolically primed' cells are activated to form new vessels, leading to improved blood supply to exercising muscles.
A systematic review of epidemiological studies found that muscle strengthening exercises associated with aerobic activities can significantly reduce cancer mortality. The analysis suggested that strength training twice a week can protect against cancer, with the benefit being even greater when combined with aerobic activities.
A new study by Staffordshire University found that users of the Heart Age Test (HAT) were more likely to make healthy lifestyle changes. The test aims to provide early warning signs of cardiovascular disease, encouraging users to reduce their heart age through diet and exercise.
Flinders University researchers found that more than half of Australians reported a decline in physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown, but fitness apps were used by over half of respondents. The study highlights the importance of social support, self-efficacy, and motivation in using physical activity apps to maintain engagement.
A new study confirms physical activity's dual benefits in depression: reducing symptoms and increasing the brain's ability to change. The exercise programme promoted motivation, social togetherness, and improved neuroplasticity, leading to decreased depressive symptoms.
A new app called selfBACK has been developed to help people deal with back pain in a better way. The app uses artificial intelligence and draws on other people's experiences with back pain to provide tailored advice and feedback.
The COVID-19 pandemic has likely led to an increase in falls among older adults due to decreased physical activity, worsened physical conditioning, and heightened fear of falling. This is a pressing concern as falls can result in significant injuries, particularly among this age group.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that exercise can alter the structure of our DNA, specifically the enhancers that regulate gene expression. This epigenetic rewiring may be responsible for the beneficial effects of physical activity on human health.
A new study published in Nutrients highlights the importance of adequate protein intake for adults living with diabetes. The research found that nearly half of US adults with diabetes did not meet the daily recommended protein intake, leading to greater physical limitations and potentially increasing the risk of muscle loss.
Researchers created a new indicator, CPRS, to measure overall cancer risk based on an individual's unique combination of DNA changes. A healthy lifestyle is associated with decreased cancer incidence in people with a high genetic risk.
A study of 344 volunteers reveals that remotely supervised exercise classes were more effective than in-person sessions or unsupervised online sessions in improving physical and mental health. The researchers attribute this to the increased intensity of exercises under remote supervision, which led to better outcomes for participants.
New research reveals that acute exercise can slow down the growth of bowel cancer cells by releasing proteins into the bloodstream. This finding suggests that regular physical activity may lower the risk of developing bowel cancer, even in individuals who do not experience weight loss.
Research from Washington State University finds that layoffs and cost-cutting measures can affect employee morale for up to two years after the event, with investments in workers leading to lasting improvements in job attitudes. Employers can mitigate negative effects by prioritizing worker investments and company culture.
Research by Tanja Oosthuyse and colleagues found that protein hydrolysate supplements improved training intensity in women, but not in men, during carbohydrate-restricted exercise. In contrast, the supplements made exercise feel harder for men due to increased breakdown of the supplement.
A recent meta-analysis found that acute aerobic exercise temporarily improves cognitive performance. However, approximately 50% of studies failed to show a link between the two. The analysis revealed that benefits were greater in those with lower pre-test scores and were more generalized across different types of cognitive performance.
The European Association for the Study of Obesity provides evidence-based physical activity recommendations for adults with overweight and obesity. The guidelines highlight the benefits of exercise training on health and wellbeing beyond weight loss.
A crossover trial found that exercising with a mask elevated breathing resistance and reduced peak exercise oxygen uptake, but did not compromise overall fitness. The study suggests that wearing masks during exercise may exert physical limitations on capacity, but the clinical relevance of this finding is uncertain.
Researchers develop AI system that uses cooperative strategies to improve human-AI collaboration in negotiations. The system, called CaSiNo, is trained on a dataset of negotiation dialogues and improves upon traditional menu-driven interfaces. It has real-world applications in business, education, and entrepreneurship.
A Brazilian study found that a lack of exercise during quarantine increased cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin levels in women aged 50-70, while also reducing muscle strength and aerobic capacity. The findings highlight the importance of promoting physical activity safely during periods of social distancing or isolation.
A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder found that a 5-minute daily workout can lower blood pressure and improve vascular health, comparable to traditional exercise or medication. The ultra-time-efficient maneuver, known as High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), was developed for breathing muscles a...
A special report highlights the controversy surrounding the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID, with clinicians weighing in on the role of exercise in rehabilitation. While some advocates reject research on exercise, others argue that careful screening and individualized treatments are key to helping patients manage t...
A new study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg found that women ran slower in the presence of spectators but performed better in shooting than men. This challenges the social facilitation theory and suggests a gender-specific difference in response to audiences or lack thereof.
Research from Binghamton University found that mental distress is lower in summer compared to fall. Good quality diet, good sleep quality, and higher exercise frequency are all associated with better mental well-being. Seasonal changes impact diet quality and mental health.
Researchers found that listening to self-selected motivational music improved interval running capacity and 5km time-trial performances in mentally fatigued fitness enthusiasts. The positive effects may be due to altered perception of effort when listening to tunes.
A two-year study will explore the health benefits of older people adhering to a Mediterranean diet and undertaking daily walking. Early pilots show improved memory and thinking in participants who followed the MedWalk intervention.
Research finds that childhood exercise promotes cognitive function through changes in brain structure and connectivity, reducing false alarm rates in tasks like Go/No-go. Cortical density and neurite orientation also play a role, suggesting early exercise may improve brain health for life.
A study by University of Göttingen sports sociologist Dr. Marcel Reinold analyzes autobiographies of professional cyclists, revealing they use complex techniques to manipulate information and conceal doping. The results show athletes play down the extent of the doping problem and portray themselves as victims to avoid suspicion.
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine found that intermittent fasting diets are not the most effective way to lose weight. Participants who followed a traditional diet with reduced calorie intake lost more weight and fat mass compared to those who fasted on alternate days.
Researchers found that plasma CTSB levels increased following aerobic exercise training in older adults at risk for AD, correlating positively with verbal learning and memory. Exercise also modified lipid metabolites relevant to AD, potentially offering neuroprotective effects.
Research from Binghamton University finds a higher association between dietary factors and women's mental health compared to men. Exercise is shown to reduce the negative impact of unhealthy foods on mental wellbeing in mature women.
A systematic review of treatments for depression in people with coronary heart disease suggests that exercise is the most effective short-term treatment. The study also found that combination treatments, including antidepressants and psychotherapy, had stronger effects than other interventions.
A recent study used cell phone apps, wearables, brain activity, and lifestyle factors to generate individualized predictions of depression. The results could lead to tailored treatment plans for mental health, moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches.
A study analyzing 7,263 English Premier League goals found that random influence is present in almost every second goal (46%). Weaker teams and draw situations see a higher proportion of chance goals, with the occurrence dependent on match situation.
A West Virginia University study shows that faith communities have the potential to promote physical wellbeing along with emotional or spiritual health. A 12-week program led by faith-community nurses encouraged better time management, provided participants with more energy, and improved comfort with exercise on a regular basis.
A randomized controlled trial found that tai chi is as effective as conventional exercise in reducing waist circumference and improving HDL cholesterol levels among middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. The study's findings are good news for those who may prefer tai chi due to limited mobility or preference.
A new study shows that tai chi mirrors the beneficial effects of conventional exercise by reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. The 12-week intervention found significant reductions in waist circumference, body weight, and improved lipid profiles among those who practiced tai chi.
A pilot study found that robotic-exoskeleton assisted exercise rehabilitation improved functional mobility, cognitive processing speed, and brain connectivity in people with significant MS-related disability. Four weeks of REAER was associated with large improvements compared to conventional gait training.