Research on physical activity and how it affects health. Covers running and step counts, disease risk reduction, fitness tracking, and exercise physiology.
For obese patients, a single session of exercise boosts fat-burning oxidation and reduces accumulated fat by-products inside the muscle, improving metabolic health. The study found that exercising increased fat storage in muscles, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit for individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that women's muscle strength was 30% lower when compared to before casting, while men regained 99% of their strength within a week. The study suggests that hormonal differences may contribute to slower recovery times in women.
Research published in BMC Public Health found that supervised exercise helped pregnant women quit smoking, with a quarter of participants giving up before birth. Regular exercise was also linked to weight loss, improved self-image, and reduced cravings.
A six-month study found that moderate aerobic exercise and weightlifting reduced liver fat in people with type 2 diabetes, improving fitness and reducing body fat. The results suggest a key benefit of trimming fatty liver for those with the disease, which can accelerate heart disease and liver failure.
A four-month exercise program improved fitness, reduced fat, and prevented lean muscle loss in older sedentary individuals. In contrast, dieting alone led to greater lean muscle loss, highlighting the importance of exercise for maintaining muscle mass and overall health.
A study published in PLOS ONE found a strong link between digit length and voluntary exercise, contradicting previous research on male aggression. The findings indicate that prenatal stress hormones play a key role in shaping the desire for physical activity.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that physical therapy combined with medical management is just as effective as arthroscopic knee surgery in relieving pain and stiffness. Physical therapists can design personalized exercise programs to improve motion, strength, and conditioning.
A study published by the American Physiological Society found that quercetin, a naturally occurring substance in fruits and vegetables, reduces the likelihood of contracting the flu. The study also showed that stressful exercise increases susceptibility to the flu, but quercetin cancels out this negative effect.
A world-first trial has proven that regular physical activity can lead to a lasting improvement in memory function. Older adults who engage in 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily outperform those who don't, with improved recall of shopping lists and social interactions.
A recent Australian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that moderate exercise can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults at risk. Participants who walked for 2 and a half hours a week showed better delayed recall, lower Clinical Dementia Rating Scores, and improved memory problems.
A positive exercise test indicates an increased risk of cardiac events, especially in athletes with underlying coronary artery disease. The test is crucial for evaluating high-risk athletes over 35 years old and those with known cardiac abnormalities.
Regular exercise training can create ambiguity with cardiac pathologic conditions, highlighting the need for thorough screening strategies. Pre-participation cardiovascular screening has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes by up to 89% in Italy.
Research shows that walking on a treadmill can significantly improve mobility and health in stroke survivors even years post-stroke. Brain scans reveal increased metabolic activity in areas associated with walking, suggesting the brain's ability to rewire and recover through exercise.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that antidepressants need new nerve cells to reduce depression-like behavior in mice. Exercise also stimulates the generation of new nerve cells in the same area. The study suggests a possible mechanism for developing drugs to treat depression by stimulating growth of nerve cells.
Researchers at the Academy of Finland's Centre of Excellence in Learning and Motivation Research have found that pre-school age exercises can significantly reduce reading and writing difficulties in children. The study suggests that training should focus on phonetics, mathematics, and information technology to aid learning.
Researchers found that cyclic compression of muscles after intense exercise reduced swelling and muscle damage in a study using animals. The massaged muscles recovered an estimated 60% of strength and had fewer damaged muscle fibers compared to rested muscles.
A study found that older runners were less likely to become disabled and may survive longer than non-runners. Regular exercise, including running, was associated with improved health outcomes, including lower levels of inflammatory markers and better cognitive function.
Researchers found that neighborhoods with low mixed-land use and high fast-food density were more likely to have overweight residents. In contrast, areas with high street connectivity, public transportation, and green spaces promoted neighborhood walking and physical activity.
A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine tracked 500 older runners for over 20 years, finding that regular running delays disability and reduces the risk of early death. The study's findings support the theory that 'comparing morbidity' - compressing the period of declining health - can extend high-quality life.
A study of 5,952 twins and 1,357 siblings found that voluntary exercise is not associated with reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. Instead, a shared genetic factor may link exercise behavior to mood disorders.
A randomized, placebo-controlled study found that creatine supplementation had negligible effects on exercise function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite increased muscle creatine levels, the study's results suggest that physical training alone remains essential for improving outcomes.
Researchers discover two compounds that enhance exercise endurance in mice, offering potential therapeutic benefits for certain muscle diseases. The drugs, PPARd and AICAR, work by reprogramming muscle gene activity, increasing running distance and time by up to 70%.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified two signaling pathways activated in response to exercise that converge to increase endurance. They discovered a drug, GW1516, that simultaneously triggers both pathways, turning laboratory mice into long-distance runners and conferring many exercise benefits.
Two drugs, GW1516 and AICAR, have been identified by researchers to enhance exercise endurance by increasing fat burning in muscle fibers. In laboratory experiments, mice treated with the drugs ran longer distances on treadmill tests than untreated animals, with one compound increasing endurance by 44 percent.
A recent study found that overweight and obese women require significantly more exercise to sustain a 10% weight loss over two years. Women who maintained this level of weight loss performed more physical activity and had better eating habits, highlighting the importance of comprehensive interventions for long-term success.
A study found that older people who engaged in endurance exercise training for a year had metabolically younger hearts. Women benefited more than men from the training, with improved glucose uptake and fatty acid metabolism.
A new study by University of Missouri researcher Vicki Conn found that behavior-changing strategies, such as goal setting and self-monitoring, significantly increased physical activity levels among adults with chronic illnesses. These interventions were more effective than cognitive approaches in motivating patients to exercise.
Researchers at OHSU have devised an ultrasound imaging technique that picks up subtle early evidence of PAD, which current conventional tests miss. The test could lead to early treatments that head off serious complications like gangrene and death.
A new mini ECG monitoring system allows heart attack rehab patients to undergo six-week walking exercise programs from anywhere, with real-time monitoring of their heart signal, location, and speed. This approach has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital re-admissions.
A University of Georgia study found that participating in a walking exercise program can decrease elderly disability risk by 41% and increase physical function by 25%. The study also showed that walking increased aerobic capacity by 19% compared to a control group.
A UCLA professor's analysis of over 160 studies reveals that a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can enhance cognitive abilities, protect the brain from damage, and counteract aging. Omega-3s have been shown to improve learning and memory, fight depression and mood disorders, and even support synaptic plasticity.
A new study led by Dr Alexandra Sänger found that slower exercise methods, such as SuperSlow, increase muscle mass and reduce connective tissue, benefiting menopausal women. The results suggest that these exercises may contribute to a better quality of life in old age.
A new study found that calorie restriction, reducing daily intake by 300-500 calories, can lower levels of thyroid hormone T3 in humans. This decrease may slow metabolism and tissue aging. The researchers suggest this strategy could be a promising approach to slowing the aging process.
A University of Missouri study found that Weight Watchers participants lost an average of 5% body weight, but mostly lean tissue. Fitness center members, despite little weight loss, improved health by reducing intraabdominal fat. Group support is crucial for success in both programs.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrate after exhaustive exercise had 66% more glycogen in their muscles four hours later. This suggests that post-exercise caffeine consumption can aid in muscle refueling and potentially enhance athletic performance.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found that study subjects on strict diet and exercise programs tend to lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends than during the week. The investigators report their findings in the advance online publication of the journal Obesity.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research found that directed thinking increased exercise performance and fitness among sedentary college students. Researchers asked participants to think about actions they could take to improve their cardiovascular fitness, leading to a significant increase in exercise time.
A recent study published by the Endocrine Society found that exercise does not suppress appetite in obese women, unlike lean women. Obese women showed no significant reduction in leptin levels during intense exercise, which is essential for appetite suppression and weight loss.
A new study found that three months of aerobic exercise decreased body fat and calorie intake in overweight and obese people, with increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) linked to reduced hunger and weight loss.
A new study by The Endocrine Society found that moderate fitness levels lower the risk of death in diabetic men, reducing mortality by 40-50% over seven years. Fitness levels were categorized as low, moderate, and high based on peak metabolic rate achieved during exercise.
A study found that moderate aerobic exercise reduces sleep onset latency and wake time, increasing total sleep time and efficiency, while decreasing anxiety state in insomnia patients. This breakthrough suggests a non-medication approach to treating insomnia, improving quality of life for millions worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are enhancing motion-capture technology to benefit older adults, enabling frequent assessment of physical function and improving exercise effectiveness and safety. The technology preserves privacy while providing valuable insights for healthcare providers.
Research published in BMC Public Health found that living near green spaces does not encourage people to engage in physical activities like walking or cycling. In fact, those with more green space nearby tend to walk and cycle less frequently due to convenience factors.
Research from McMaster University found that brief, high-intensity sprints improve blood vessel function and structure, similar to traditional long-duration exercise. The study suggests that short bursts of intense exercise can reap the same cardiovascular benefits as longer workouts.
Researchers at Indiana University have made a significant discovery linking cognitive function to postural stability in elderly individuals. The study found that a brief questionnaire can effectively identify those at risk of falls, allowing for early intervention and prevention. Additionally, the team is exploring stretches and exerci...
A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that men who exercise regularly are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't. The researchers discovered a 33% increased survival rate among men who walked or cycled for at least 30 minutes a day, with more extensive physical activity leading to a 16% lower incidence of cancer.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing found that stretching exercises reduced preeclampsia incidence by less than 5% compared to walking. The study suggests that stretching may be a protective effect against preeclampsia, particularly for women with a high risk of developing the condition.
A 20-year study found that group-based diet and exercise lifestyle interventions reduced diabetes incidence by 51% during the intervention period and 43% over 20 years. The interventions also led to a significant reduction in the duration of diabetes, with participants spending an average of 3.6 fewer years with the condition.
Researchers found that COPD patients who lived longer than two years obtained more positive results from their PR program than those with end-stage COPD. The study suggests that other factors present at end of life may contribute to poorer outcomes in exercise capacity and quality of life.
A Canadian study finds that video-conferencing technology improves pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes for rural patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The TELEHEALTH program, which uses video and communications technologies to deliver exercise programs under direct supervision, shows similar results to standard in-p...
A study found that stroke patients are at high risk for falls and subsequent injuries after leaving the hospital. Researchers recommend fall prevention strategies such as lower leg strengthening, balance retraining, exercise programs, home hazard assessment, and modification to prevent falls in these vulnerable individuals.
A new study led by Duke University researchers found that lung cancer patients can tolerate exercise after surgery, leading to improved tolerance for physical activity and better overall quality of life. The 14-week study showed significant gains in aerobic fitness and reduced fatigue among participants.,
A mouse study has found that caloric restriction leads to beneficial hormonal changes, which play a role in extending life. The study suggests that calorie restriction is more effective than exercise in promoting longevity.
A study of nearly 65,000 women found that physical activity significantly reduces the risk of premenopausal breast cancer. Women who exercised regularly had a 23% lower risk of developing breast cancer before menopause.
A middle school student collaborated with his father and researchers to develop a simplified DNA fingerprinting method using food dyes. The experiments are designed for classrooms or teachers with limited experience and can be conducted inexpensively.
Aerobic exercise combined with cognitive behavioral therapy may improve depression, physical function and quality of life in depressed heart failure patients. The study found that the combination group showed significant improvement in depression symptoms and physical function tests compared to other groups.
Cancer survivors who practice healthy habits such as avoiding tobacco, eating more fruits and vegetables, and getting adequate exercise tend to have higher health-related quality of life scores. However, many survivors are not meeting physical activity recommendations or the '5-A-Day' fruit and vegetable consumption recommendation.
Researchers found that endurance athletes experienced significant increases in heart size, while strength athletes saw thickening of the left ventricle. The study provides new insights into the effects of exercise on cardiac function, which may benefit heart disease patients in the future.
Researchers found that COPD patients who used a computer game to control their breathing showed significant improvements in exercise duration and reduced exercise-induced hyperinflation. The study suggests that teaching these breathing techniques to daily activities could greatly improve quality of life for patients.
A study by researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that exercising mice grew prostate tumors twice as fast as non-exercising mice, potentially leading to improved drug delivery models for cancer treatment. The exercise may increase blood flow to tumors, allowing for better distribution of medicine.