Research on physical activity and how it affects health. Covers running and step counts, disease risk reduction, fitness tracking, and exercise physiology.
A recent study published in Health Education and Behavior found that most exergames provide only light-to-moderate intensity physical activity, which is insufficient to meet daily exercise recommendations. However, the games can be useful for certain populations, such as seniors or those with more suitable fitness levels.
A large group of patients with diabetes showed a lower risk of total and cardiovascular mortality with higher levels of physical activity, including leisure-time PA and walking. Moderately active individuals had the lowest mortality risk compared to those who were physically inactive.
A new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that men who engage in weight training regularly may reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 34%, compared to those who do not. The study also showed that combining weight training with aerobic exercise can further lower the risk, even as high as 59%.
A study of 32,002 men found that weight training was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Men who engaged in both weight training and aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week had the greatest reduction in risk.
A new study challenges the long-held view that conserving energy maximizes sprinter performance. Instead, researchers found that maximizing the force of each foot hit on the ground allows sprinters to achieve top speed.
A large international study found that moderate exercise helps ease depression in patients with chronic heart failure, while also reducing deaths and hospitalizations. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that exercise has a significant impact on both mental and physical health.
Patients with chronic heart failure who participated in exercise training experienced modest reductions in depressive symptoms after 12 months compared to usual care. Regular exercise was associated with lower scores on the Beck Depression Inventory II and reduced risk of mortality and hospitalizations.
A study found that group yoga significantly improved balance in stroke survivors, even after six months post-stroke. The yoga program included modified postures, relaxation, and meditation, and showed clinically meaningful improvements.
Researchers are using inactive, fat rats to study childhood obesity and its complex relationship with diseases. Studies show that children who are inactive in childhood are more likely to continue this habit into adulthood and develop consequences such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A new rehabilitation program developed by Michigan State University's Amy Hoffman uses the Nintendo Wii-Fit Plus to promote light-intensity walking and balance exercises. The program has shown excellent improvement in reducing cancer-related fatigue levels over time.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center developed lab-engineered muscle implants that can prompt muscle regeneration and repair, resulting in significant functional improvement. Exercising the implants accelerates the recovery process and promotes new muscle tissue growth.
Regular exercise has clear benefits for physical and mental health, making it a key factor in reducing mortality rates. Health professionals should consider exercise levels as a vital sign to provide more help for patients to adopt exercise regimes.
A study published in the British Medical Journal found that simple exercises, such as turning head and nodding neck, reduced dizziness within weeks and improved quality of life for over a year. The researchers urge GPs to distribute exercise booklets to patients with persistent dizziness.
UAVForge, a crowdsourcing competition, aimed to design and develop a militarily relevant small UAV. Despite over 140 teams participating, none successfully completed the fly-off event, highlighting asset cost and complexity hurdles.
A recent study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry suggests that exercise is more beneficial than diet control in reducing β-amyloid formation and restoring memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. The research found that exercise alone can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease.
A study of 92 menopausal women found that regular physical activity can lead to a decrease in hot flash symptoms. The researchers used objective and subjective methods to track the frequency of hot flashes, finding that exercising actually reduced symptoms in most participants, contradicting previous assumptions.
A new study estimates that replacing car journeys with walking for short trips could save 108 men's and 79 women's lives annually in Catalonia. This would also bring economic benefits of over €200 million, with annual savings of more than €200 million.
Research finds that physical activity, regardless of intensity, may reduce breast cancer risk in women. Exercise before or after menopause can lower the risk, especially for hormone receptor-positive tumors.
A new study by The Endocrine Society found that a combination of diet-induced weight loss and frequent exercise almost doubled the improvement in insulin sensitivity compared to dieting alone. This suggests a distinct complementary effect of exercise on diet-induced weight loss, according to the study.
A three-month exercise program significantly improved lung transplant patients' health-related quality of life and reduced their risk of cardiovascular problems. The study found that patients who exercised had higher quadriceps muscle force, longer walking distances, and better physical functioning compared to those in the control group.
A study of 1,978 Spanish adolescents found that those who ate more frequently had lower accumulated fat rates, regardless of physical activity. Eating breakfast daily was particularly beneficial for young men who did not exercise.
A natural compound found in fruits, nuts and red wine has shown improved physical performance and endurance in lab models. Researchers plan to test resveratrol on diabetics with heart failure to improve heart function and exercise capabilities.
New research from McMaster University debunks the bodybuilding myth that growth-promoting hormones stimulate strength after weightlifting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, anabolic hormones do not influence muscle protein synthesis, leading to bigger muscles.
A study by the University of Zurich found that practicing character strengths such as curiosity, gratitude, and optimism boosts life satisfaction. Participants who trained these strengths reported increased happiness and better mood regulation.
The exercise stress test remains an essential tool for diagnosing coronary artery disease, particularly in patients who can exercise. The test is non-invasive and can be administered in doctor's offices, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution.
A recent study shows that liposuction can lead to an increase in visceral fat, associated with cardiovascular disease. However, regular physical activity effectively prevents this compensatory growth. The study found that exercising after liposuction reduces the risk of weight regain and related health issues.
Researchers found that elevated erythropoietin in the brain improved motivation for higher exercise performance in mice. The study suggests a potential new approach to increasing physical activity, which could benefit people with mental health disorders and other health problems.
A new telehealth program by the University of Alberta helps rural COPD patients in northern Alberta communities. The program uses telehealth technology to conduct pulmonary rehab sessions and provide consultations with pulmonologists, resulting in improved quality of life and increased exercise tolerance after two months.
Research suggests that chronic excessive endurance exercise can cause structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to myocardial injury. Lifelong vigorous exercisers generally have low mortality and disability rates, but may be at risk for adverse cardiovascular remodeling.
Exercise significantly reduces neuropathic pain severity and inflammation-promoting cytokine expression in rats with sciatic nerve injury. This study provides evidence that exercise can be a helpful, non-pharmacological therapy for managing neuropathic pain.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that runners can improve their performance and health by reducing their training time to 20-30 minutes per session. The research involved 18 moderately trained runners who followed the 10-20-30 training concept, which consists of 5-minute running intervals with rest periods.
Studies found that regular exercise improved physical function in cancer survivors, but specific prescriptions remain unclear. Researchers also discovered that older cancer survivors engage less in physical activity due to functional declines, potentially affecting independence and survival.
Women who exercise regularly and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have a significantly longer life expectancy than those who don't. The study found that the most physically active and fruit/vegetable-consumption groups were eight times more likely to survive a five-year period, with death rates being up to 71% lower.
New research published in Hepatology found that moderate exercise does not improve lipoprotein concentrations in obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While exercise reduced intrahepatic triglyceride content, it did not change liver lipoprotein levels or body weight.
A new study from Michigan State University reveals that exercising with a moderately capable virtual partner can significantly boost motivation, with women cycling twice as long when working with a partner. The results suggest the gains observed over six hour-long sessions could be sustained on a longer-term program of exercise.
A study by Duke University Medical Center found that breast cancer patients have significantly impaired cardio-pulmonary function that can persist for years after treatment. Higher cardio fitness levels were linked to longer median survival among women with advanced breast cancer, suggesting exercise may be a useful intervention.
Researchers found Nordic walking with poles increased oxygen consumption and peak heart rate in both healthy adults and patients with heart failure compared to walking without poles. This low-cost, accessible form of exercise may be a more effective training method than traditional walking for these groups.
A new study from the UK shows that completion of pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients who completed rehabilitation had a higher level of response in exercise capacity and a significant survival advantage compared to those who did not complete re...
A randomized clinical trial found that moderate weight loss can significantly reduce levels of circulating estrogens associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The study, published by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, showed that losing just 5% of one's total body weight had a beneficial impact on hormone levels.
A study published in Archives of Dermatology suggests that vigorous physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis in US women. Participating in at least 20.9 MET-hours of vigorous exercise per week may reduce the risk by 25-30%. The study found no association between walking and psoriasis risk.
Dartmouth researchers have found that exercise has different effects on memory and the brain depending on age, with potential therapeutic benefits for ADHD. The study identified a gene that mediates exercise's impact on mental health, offering new avenues for treatment.
A new meta-analysis of research on athletes and pain perception reveals that regular exercise can help alleviate pain. Athletes were found to have consistently higher pain tolerance than normally active adults, with endurance athletes exhibiting moderate tolerance and game sports athletes showing a higher but more varied tolerance.
A new study published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that virtual exercise partners can significantly improve motivation and performance. Women who exercised with a more capable virtual partner cycled an average of two minutes longer than those who worked out alone, and reported no decline in motivation to exercise.
Research found that moderate fitness levels can lower hypertension risk by 34% for those with a parent's high blood pressure, while highly fit individuals have a 70% lower risk. The study of over 6,000 participants suggests that even realistic exercise can provide significant health benefits.
A study examined the effectiveness of exercise testing in asymptomatic patients after coronary revascularization. Ischemia was detected in 262 patients and death was associated with ischemia, suggesting that risk evaluation could be obtained from a standard exercise test rather than exercise echocardiography.
Despite federal recommendations for four hours of physical activity per week, Americans spend only about two hours engaging in sports and fitness activities. The most prevalent activity is dedicated walking, with teenagers spending seven times more time playing basketball than older adults.
A Mayo Clinic study of 926 people aged 70-93 found that combining mentally stimulating activities like computer use with moderate exercise decreases the risk of memory loss. The study suggests a synergistic interaction between computer activities and exercise in protecting brain function, particularly for those over 70.
Researchers found that regular exercise reduces oxidative stress in individuals with sickle cell trait, increasing antioxidants and nitric oxide levels. This reduction in oxidative stress may help combat the increased morbidity and mortality associated with SCT.
Researchers have discovered that a customized mouthpiece can decrease cortisol levels following exercise, indicating less stress and potentially leading to faster recovery times. The study suggests that this simple device may enhance exercise performance without the use of drugs or supplements.
A new study found that consuming a blend of proteins (soy, whey and casein) post-workout can increase muscle protein synthesis and provide an extended release of amino acids. This combination appears to offer the optimal delivery of essential amino acids for up to five hours.
A study of 434,190 individuals in Taiwan found that exercise can help smokers quit and reduce the risk of heart attack. Regular physical activity increased life expectancy by 3.7 years among smokers.
A study published in Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery suggests that targeted swallowing exercises can alleviate debilitating side effects in people undergoing chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Patients who performed five targeted swallowing exercises throughout their CRT showed significantly better scores...
Research by Katherine Ashbullby and Dr Mathew White found that coastal visits had the greatest benefit on mental health and well-being. Outdoors locations like parks and countryside also showed positive effects, but not as strongly as the coast.
A recent study published at the World Congress of Cardiology found that regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in individuals with high blood pressure. The study involved over 434,000 participants and revealed a significant difference in mortality risks between physically active and inactiv...
A joint study by Group Health Research Institute and Bastyr University found that type 2 diabetes patients receiving naturopathic care had lower blood-sugar levels and improved moods. Naturopathic physicians provided counseling on diet, exercise, and stress management to add to conventional care.
A study published in Neurology found that daily physical exercise and low-intensity activities like cooking and washing dishes can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. People in the bottom 10% of daily activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's, highlighting the importance of regular movement.
A new study by Rush University Medical Center found that daily physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. The study, which tracked the activities of 716 older individuals over 3.5 years, showed that those in the bottom 10% of daily physical activity were more than twice as likely t...
A review article from University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that practices such as physical exercise, meditation, and certain forms of psychological counseling can change the brain for the better, leading to enhanced well-being. These changes can be measured using modern neuroscience tools.
Performing targeted swallowing exercises following chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer improves swallowing function in the short term. However, this benefit does not last beyond three months, with no significant difference found at nine or 12 months post-treatment.
Penn State researchers found that perceived control over hot flashes is a key factor in how exercise affects menopausal women. Women who felt they had more control over their hot flashes experienced fewer symptoms after physical activity. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also help some women feel more in control.