Research on physical activity and how it affects health. Covers running and step counts, disease risk reduction, fitness tracking, and exercise physiology.
The pilot demonstration evaluated radiation detection sensors and protocols for small vessel maritime environment. Small vessels, including recreational boats and commercial vessels, are screened for radiological materials using portable hand-held sensors and boat-mounted systems.
A study published in Psychology and Health found that using cognitive tasks to exhaust self-regulatory capacity leads to decreased exercise motivation over time. Researchers suggest strategies like listening to music or making specific plans can help recharge willpower.
Exercise counseling combined with fitness center-based training improves muscular strength and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, comparable to supervised exercise programs. Physical therapists can effectively prescribe this approach for patients with type 2 diabetes.
A new study reveals that stress and upheaval actually lead people to choose less-familiar options over comfort foods. Participants in the study chose newer snacks when experiencing more change in their lives, contradicting the common assumption that people seek comfort during uncertain times.
Critically ill patients in ICUs can benefit from mild physical therapy exercises to reduce muscle wasting and promote recovery. The new approach involves introducing muscle-strengthening exercises early into treatment plans, with patients exercising while on ventilators and other life-support equipment.
Postmenopausal women can improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases through regular, vigorous exercise. Studies show that even less strenuous aerobic exercise produces benefits, and women's metabolism changes after menopause affect glucose clearance from the blood.
A new study led by Queen's University aims to clarify Canadian exercise guidelines, which suggest 20-30 minutes of vigorous activity or 45-60 minutes of walking for health benefits. The research will investigate the specific type, amount, pattern, and intensity of exercise needed to achieve optimal results.
Researchers found that 4 weeks of aerobic cycling exercise reduced hepatic triglyceride concentration and visceral adipose tissue volume in obese individuals, leading to lower risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study suggests that regular physical activity can benefit liver health without relying on weight loss.
A new study found that exercise reduces appetite and burns fat first, then carbohydrates, slowing weight regain and overeating. Exercise also prevents the increase in fat cells during weight regain, making it easier to stay on a diet.
A 12-week moderate aerobic exercise program improved insulin sensitivity in both lean and obese sedentary adolescents, increasing fitness without the need for weight loss. The study suggests an aerobic program like this could be a useful tool in preventing obesity-related illnesses.
30% of coronary heart disease and stroke can be prevented with 2.5 hours of brisk walking per week, reducing cardiovascular deaths by 284,886 annually. Regular exercise also improves glycemic control and insulin action, enhancing endothelial function.
A Virginia Tech-led research team is designing a program to help pre-diabetic adults begin and maintain resistance training. The goal is to improve insulin and glucose metabolism, reducing the risk of diabetes. A five-year study will test theory-based approaches to encourage long-term adherence to resistance training.
MU researchers discovered a 'longevity' gene that energizes mice during exercise, potentially applicable to humans. The gene removes toxic free radicals from mitochondria, improving life quality and treating diseases like muscular dystrophy and diabetes.
A landmark study will follow 200 people with PD for at least two years to examine the impact of disease progression on day-to-day function and quality of life. The research aims to advance understanding of how interventions like exercise affect changes in quality of life and mobility over time.
A new study by the American Psychological Association reveals that excessive exercise can lead to physical addiction, causing withdrawal symptoms. Rats given a drug that blocks the action of heroin showed severe withdrawal symptoms after running excessively, highlighting the potential for exercise to become compulsive and addictive.
Rats fed high-fat diets for four days showed decreased muscle oxygen use, increased heart size, and impaired maze completion. After nine days, they made more mistakes and took longer to complete tasks compared to those on a low-fat diet.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that weightlifting can help reduce lymphedema symptoms in breast cancer survivors. The research challenges traditional advice and suggests a slowly progressive weight-lifting routine can be beneficial for women with lymphedema.
Researchers found that taking dexamethasone prophylactically improves exercise capacity, oxygen uptake kinetics and decreases anaerobic threshold in HAPE-susceptible climbers. Dexamethasone reduces pulmonary artery pressure and has anti-inflammatory properties, but also carries significant side effects.
Research shows that approximately 25-35% of American adults are inactive, doubling their risk of developing numerous health conditions. A leading exercise scientist emphasizes the importance of physical activity in delaying mental decline and brain health problems.
A new study published in Journal of Applied Physiology shows that drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake, allowing individuals to exercise for up to 16% longer. The study also found lower resting blood pressure in those who consumed beetroot juice compared to a placebo.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends low to moderate exercise for pregnant women, despite past concerns. Exercise can strengthen musculoskeletal and physiologic health, ease back pain, and improve post-partum mood.
A groundbreaking clinical trial has shown that exercise can significantly improve symptoms of fatigue and depression, increase cardiovascular endurance, and maintain quality of life for adult leukemia patients undergoing treatment. The study demonstrated a substantial reduction in total fatigue and depression scores, as well as improve...
A long-term study found that increased exercise in middle-aged adults led to decreased triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol levels, with stronger effects in women. African-American women experienced the greatest benefits, especially post-menopause, while racial differences may be attributed to genetic variations.
A University of Iowa study found that kids who were active at age 5 had less body fat by ages 8 and 11. Even small increases in physical activity, such as an extra 10 minutes per day, can make a difference in protecting against excessive fat gains.
A new study found that most older long-term cancer survivors with an interest in diet and exercise actually have poor health habits. However, those who exercised regularly and followed a healthy diet experienced improved physical health and quality of life.
Researchers found that even at low ozone concentrations, healthy individuals can experience significant decreases in lung function after moderate exercise. The study suggests that healthier individuals may exhibit individual variability in their responses to ozone, with some showing strong sensitivity while others are less affected.
Hebrew SeniorLife is expanding its evidence-based healthy aging programs with a new $105,000 grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The program will educate over 500 seniors on nutrition, exercise, and falls prevention, aiming to maintain their health and independence.
Mayo Clinic researchers found that prior exercise was significantly associated with milder impairments and better ability to care for oneself after a stroke. The study's lead investigator suggests that exercise can improve outcomes even if it doesn't reduce the risk of developing a stroke.
A study published in PLoS Medicine found that encouraging the use of pedometers and promoting physical activity through mass media campaigns are the most cost-effective interventions. These programs can reduce death and illness from heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, with an overall cost-saving for the health sector.
Researchers have found that a simple bar and strengthening exercise may provide a practical and effective means of treating tennis elbow. The study, which randomized 21 patients with tennis elbow into two groups, showed that the eccentric training group had vastly better results on all scales, especially related to strength.
A new Army study has improved the ability to predict drinking water needs for troops, potentially cutting costs of operations and improving civilian water planning. The study produced formulations that are 58-65% more accurate than the existing Shapiro equation in laboratory settings.
A University of Alberta study shows that heart transplant recipients can significantly improve their physical fitness, including cardio-respiratory fitness, muscle mass, and maximal strength. However, exercise training did not improve heart or blood-vessel function.
A new study found that exercise counseling leads to significant improvements in physical activity, fitness, and liver health in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients who increased their physical activity had better metabolic indices, including lower liver enzymes and improved insulin resistance.
Research explores how exercise at high altitudes impacts the body's response to decreased oxygen levels. The findings reveal adaptations that help maintain oxygen delivery to muscles during exercise and long-term benefits for athletes training at moderate altitude.
Researchers found that physically active elderly individuals exhibited healthier cerebral blood vessels compared to less active counterparts. The study showed a vessel pattern similar to younger adults, with increased small-diameter vessels and less twisting.
Research suggests that triathletes who undertake high levels of cycling training have worse sperm morphology and quality. The study found a statistically adverse correlation between sperm morphology and the volume of cycling training undertaken per week.
A Kansas State University study found that Girl Scout meetings can increase girls' physical activity and promote healthy habits. The two-year research involved nine Girl Scout troops, with five receiving an intervention aimed at teaching exercise sessions and nutrition.
A study published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity found a strong association between extraversion and lower levels of inflammatory chemical interleukin 6 (IL-6), which can signal increased risk of death. The research suggests that dispositional activity may confer a survival advantage.
A new study found that people with stroke impairments experience delays in gripping and releasing objects, but using an arm support device can improve release speed. Active muscle-stretching exercises also showed promise, helping with grip initiation but delaying release.
Researchers found significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills, and energy levels among Parkinson's patients playing Wii games. Most participants experienced a decrease in depression levels to zero.
A supervised exercise programme improved physical function, reduced steroid need, and decreased depression and anxiety in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients showed significant improvements in HAQ disability index, sit and stand test, and walk time test.
Researchers at UIC are conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of collaborative virtual environments in improving public health preparedness and response planning. The study, funded by a $1.6 million grant from the CDC, uses Second Life to train public health workers in emergency preparedness.
A study by The Endocrine Society found that exenatide, an injectable medication, helps nondiabetic obese individuals lose over three times more weight than those receiving a placebo. This is the first study to assess the effect of exenatide on body weight in nondiabetic obese individuals.
A new study found that hormone therapy combined with physical activity significantly reduces belly fat and body fat percentage in postmenopausal women. The research, which included 34 healthy women, showed that active women had lower waist measurements and better cholesterol levels after 4 months of hormone replacement therapy.
A recent study published in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that regular daily exercise does not increase total sleep time. The study, which involved 14 subjects who wore actigraphy armbands for approximately 23 days, showed that increased activity was followed by lower total sleep time, and vice versa.
A study of 2,500 elderly individuals found that those with moderate exercise habits, high education levels, and social engagement were more likely to retain their cognitive skills. These factors, which can be changed through lifestyle modifications, may help prevent or slow the onset of dementia.
A University of Alberta study found that exercising four days a week provides the greatest amount of pain relief and quality of life for individuals with chronic lower-back pain. Regular exercise reduces pain by 28% and disability by 36%, while less frequent exercise has minimal impact.
A new study finds that lowfat chocolate milk is an effective post-exercise recovery aid for soccer players, providing equal or superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage. Chocolate milk's unique blend of protein and carbohydrates helps refuel exhausted muscles and reduce exercise-induced muscle damage.
A study by Indiana University researchers found that the ingestion of caffeine within an hour of exercise can reduce the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Smaller amounts of caffeine also reduced wheezing, coughing and other symptoms of EIA. The study extended earlier research on caffeine's effectiveness in reducing EIA symptoms.
A study by the Medical College of Wisconsin found that young female professional dancers face similar health risks as female athletes due to inadequate nutrition and menstrual irregularities. The researchers studied 22 ballerinas and found that 36% had disordered eating habits, 27% were amenorrheic, and 23% had low bone density.
A new study suggests that drinking tart cherry juice before and after exercise can significantly reduce muscle pain, with a clinically significant difference of 2 points on a pain scale. The researchers attribute the benefits to the fruit's natural anti-inflammatory power due to its antioxidant compounds.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that vestibular dysfunction increases the risk of falls among middle-aged and older Americans. The survey revealed that people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from balance problems, and that balance testing needs to be part of basic primary care.
A lifestyle modification program for patients with mild to moderate COPD significantly improves health status, exercise capacity, and quality of life over a 2-year period. The program is also found to be cost-effective, despite initial higher costs.
A randomized controlled trial of an e-mail intervention program found that employees who received tailored messages were more physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables, and reducing saturated fats and trans fats. The changes had a lasting effect four months after the intervention ended.
Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with a lower risk of all-cause death and coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis suggests that even a minimal level of CRF, above 7.9 METs, can provide significant prevention for these conditions.
A randomized trial of 100 ICU patients found that daily mobilization and sedative interruption improved functional status and reduced delirium at hospital discharge. Nearly 60% of early mobilization patients achieved independence, compared to only one third in the control arm.
Research led by Lynne Kammer found that whole grain cereal plus milk is comparable to sports drinks in replenishing glycogen after exercise. The study suggests that a quick bowl of cereal with skimmed milk can be a cost-effective recovery option for those refueling at home.
A home-based diet and exercise program reduced the rate of functional decline among older, overweight long-term cancer survivors. The intervention group showed significant improvements in targeted behaviors and overall health-related quality of life compared to the control group.
A new study found that body movements can aid in problem-solving, with participants who swung their arms more likely to solve a complex problem. The study's findings suggest that the brain uses bodily cues to help understand and solve problems, even when the individual is not consciously aware of it.
A home-based program aimed at improving exercise and diet can lead to significant improvements in physical function among older long-term cancer survivors. The study found that the intervention group had higher levels of physical function compared to the control arm, with declines in functional decline of almost five points versus slig...