Born To Run: Variations In One Gene May Be Associated With Endurance Running

A few minor variations in one gene may make a difference in athletic endurance, according to a new study from Physiological Genomics. The study found that elite endurance athletes were more likely to have variations of the NRF2 gene than elite sprinters...

Exercise Helps Protect Brain Of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Highly fit multiple sclerosis patients perform significantly better on tests of cognitive function than similar less-fit patients, a new study shows. In addition, MRI scans of the patients showed that the fitter MS patients showed less damage in parts of the brain that show deterioration as a result of MS, as well as a greater volume of vital gray matter...

New Mathematical Model To Predict Sports Injuries From Equations Developed By Spanish Researchers

Noticias UGR Spanish researchers have developed a new mathematical model that predicts sports injuries from a series of equations. Their work has proved that sport injuries that affect the lower limbs in high-impact sport, such as football, athletics or basketball, can be predicted through the use of equations of logistic regression. This paper has been published in the journal Apunts...

Experts Discuss Altitude And Performance With A Focus On The Winter Olympics

For winter sports athletes, including Olympians competing in Vancouver this week, the altitude of the sports venue can have a significant impact on performance, requiring athletes in skill sports, such as figure skating, ski jumping and snowboarding, to retool highly technical moves to accommodate more or less air resistance...

Researchers Develop A New Mathematical Model To Predict Slight Sports Injuries From Equations

Spanish researchers have developed a new mathematical model that permits to predict sport injuries from a series of equations. Their work has proved that sport injuries that affect the lower limbs in high-impact sport, such as football, athletics or basketball, can be predicted through the use of equations of logistic regression. This paper has been published in the journal "Apunts...

Simple Test May Help Judge Concussion In Athletes

A simple test of reaction time may help determine whether athletes have sustained a concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) and when they are ready to play again, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010...

Some Business Professionals And Winter Olympians Share Risk-Taking Behavior

Why do Winter Olympic athletes risk injury and possible death for their sport? At the upcoming games in Vancouver, gutsy athletes will be flying down the bobsled track, downhill skiers will be recording enormous speeds, and snowboarders will be flying well above the half pike. What do many of these Winter Olympians have in common? According to sports psychologist Dr...

Exploring The Limits: Understanding The Challenges Facing Winter Olympic Champions

As the world turns its sporting gaze towards Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, The Physiological Society journal Experimental Physiology marks the occasion with a special issue exploring the biological and environmental challenges elite winter athletes must overcome to win gold...

Strengthen Your Core Like Olympic Skiers

If you're going to hurl yourself down a mountain at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour you'd better have a strong core. That's why Olympians like Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn and Sara Schleper work on developing strong "core" muscles all season long. Most people know that having a strong core is critical for optimal skiing performance...

MPS Warns Doctors To Be Cautious When Declaring Patients Fit For Marathons

MPS is advising doctors to be cautious when completing fitness and health forms for patients competing in sporting and athletic events. This follows enquiries from MPS members about the implications of declaring patients fit and in good health - a registration requirement for the upcoming Rome Marathon (Maratona di Roma, 21 March 2010)...

Using Science To Decode The Secrets Of Olympic Skeleton Sliding

Olympic skeleton athletes will hit the ice next month in Vancouver, where one-hundredths of a second can dictate the difference between victory and defeat. Using state-of-the-art flow measurements, engineering professor Timothy Wei and students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., are employing science and technology to help the U.S...

Survey: Doctors Need More Knowledge About Exercise And Pregnancy

Research conducted by the President of the American College of Sports Medicine and colleagues shows many doctors aren't sure what to tell their pregnant patients about exercise. ACSM President James Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSM, and colleagues Patricia Bauer, Ph.D., and Cliff Broman, Ph.D., surveyed 93 M.D.s, D.O...

Research Supports First Lady’s Childhood Obesity Initiative

First Lady Michelle Obama announced yesterday an initiative to reverse rising levels of childhood obesity - and scientific research from the American College of Sports Medicine backs up the strategies related to physical activity in her "Let's Move" campaign...

High Prevalence Of Atrial Fibrillation Found Among Cross-Country Skiers

Next month, in the Norwegian town of Rena, 12,000 elite cross-country skiers will line up for this year's Birkebeiner ski marathon, an annual endurance race which will take them through 54 kilometres of snow-covered countryside to the winter sports resort of Lillehammer...

The Attitude Of Secondary Students Towards Physical Education Improved By Role-Playing Games

A research work performed at the University of Granada (Spain) has proved that role-playing games have a very positive effect on the knowledge and habits of physical and sports practice from a health viewpoint in students of Secondary Education, as their practice can make that exercise and healthy life habits are more attractive for teenagers...

Canadian Dietitians ‘Dish Up’ Gold Medal Advice And Menus For Olympic Athletes

Dietitians are key members of the Olympic team - advising elite athletes on what to eat and ensuring they get the right foods to fuel them during their competitive events. "In addition to the rigorous coaching, training and commitment, Olympic athletes need the right foods every day for success...

M. D. Anderson’s Seven-Day Exercise Plan

Being active for at least 30 minutes every day reduces your risk of developing some types of cancer. Fitness experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have designed an exclusive exercise plan based on this evidence that will fit into almost anyone's lifestyle...

Examining Baseball And Softball Injuries – American Academy Of Pediatrics

While high school baseball and softball players experience the same rate of shoulder injuries, there are differences in how those injuries occur, according the study, "Shoulder Injuries in U.S. High School Baseball and Softball Athletes, 2005-2008," published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online February 8)...

Six Things We Can Learn From Olympians

Olympic athletes inspire us with their fierce discipline and natural talent as they smash records, going higher, further and faster. Their can-do spirit encourages us all to take on new challenges. Whether your goal is to complete your first marathon, improve your golf game or compete in a triathlon competition, there are lessons to be learned from the best of the best...

ACSM, Sen. John Mccain Support “Supplement Safety Now”

The world's largest sports medicine and exercise science organization today expressed its support for proposed safety legislation in the dietary supplement industry...

Gene Doping And Sports: The Genetic Enhancement Frontier?

With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games just days away, officials in the anti-doping community are urging researchers and those in the athletic community to re-double their efforts to fight illegal doping. The ethics commentary, called "Gene Doping and Sports," appears in the February issue of the journal Science...

High School Pitchers Need To Train Properly Before Season To Avoid Serious Injuries

High school pitchers who go full-speed the first day or week of spring training may be headed down the road to serious injury. "A large number of high school athletes take the winter off and just go out and start throwing as hard as they can," said Matt Holland, a physical therapist with The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston...

High School Pitchers Need To Train Properly Before Season To Avoid Serious Injuries

High school pitchers who go full-speed the first day or week of spring training may be headed down the road to serious injury. "A large number of high school athletes take the winter off and just go out and start throwing as hard as they can," said Matt Holland, a physical therapist with The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston...

Blood Pressure-Lowering Diet Appears More Effective When Combined With Other Interventions

Combining an anti-hypertension diet with exercise and weight loss counseling may result in increased reduction in high blood pressure along with other benefits. James A. Blumenthal, Ph.D., of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., and colleagues studied 144 overweight or obese patients with high blood pressure...

Resistance Training Programs Appear To Improve Some Cognitive Skills In Older Women

One year of once- or twice-weekly resistance training appears to improve attention and conflict resolution skills among older women. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ph.D., P.T., of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues studied 155 women age 65 to 75...

Physical Activity Associated With Healthier Aging

Physical activity appears to be associated with a reduced risk or slower progression of several age-related conditions as well as improvements in overall health in older age, according to a commentary and four articles published in the January 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals...

Play Yourself Healthy

A just published research experiment on inactive men with high blood pressure shows that just 3 months of soccer practise twice a week causes a significant fall in blood pressure, resting pulse rate, and percentage of body fat, and is more effective than the doctor's usual advice on healthy diet and exercise...

Birth Month May Determine Who Becomes A Sports Star

The month of your birth influences your chances of becoming a professional sportsperson, an Australian researcher has found. Senior research fellow Dr. Adrian Barnett from Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation studies the seasonal patterns of population health and found the month you were born in could influence your future health and fitness...

British People Too Busy To Get Physical

Nearly half of adults (44 per cent) are 'too busy' to do physical activity and two out of three are not doing the recommended 30 minutes a day, according to a survey of 2,000 people...

Health Minister Announces Funding For Outdoor Fitness Trails For Hospital Staff, Wales

Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced almost £50,000 of funding to install fitness trails in the grounds of two Welsh hospitals. The outdoor schemes are being piloted at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny and Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog to promote healthy lifestyles to NHS staff...

New Nanoscopic Material Enables Cartilage To Do What It Doesn’t Do Naturally

Northwestern University researchers are the first to design a bioactive nanomaterial that promotes the growth of new cartilage in vivo and without the use of expensive growth factors. Minimally invasive, the therapy activates the bone marrow stem cells and produces natural cartilage. No conventional therapy can do this. The results will be published online the week of Feb...

Helmets Reduce Skiing, Snowboarding Head Injuries Say Researchers

Researchers in Canada who systematically reviewed data from available relevant studies concluded that wearing helmets reduced the risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders by 35 per cent with no increased risk of neck injury...

Helmets Reduce The Risk Of Head Injuries Among Skiers And Snowboarders By 35%

Helmets reduce the risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders by 35% with no evidence of an increased risk of neck injury, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Some suggest that helmets may increase the risk of neck injury in a crash or fall, particularly in children because of their greater head to body ratio...

This Winter, Go For The Gold – American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons

As Olympians push their bodies to the extreme during the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver, professional and amateur sports enthusiasts alike will be watching their favorite televised sports...

Spinal Cord Injuries To Hockey Players Have Decreased In Canada

The past decade has seen a significant reduction in the number and severity of spinal cord injuries in Canadian ice hockey, reports a study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine...

Fittest Children Cycle To School, Says New Research

Children who cycle to school are more physically active and fit than those who use other modes of transport, according to new research from the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. The findings are based a study of 6,000 children, ages 10 to 16, from the eastern region of England...

Barefoot Running May Be Better For Feet, Joints By Avoiding Heel-Strike

An international team of researchers suggests that running barefoot may be better for the feet and joints of the lower limbs because they found people who run barefoot or in minimal shoes strike their foot on the ground in such a way that they have almost no impact collision due to "heel-strike", unlike people who run in modern running shoes where the impact of the mo...

Athletic Injuries More Frequent In Females

Female athletes experience dramatically higher rates of specific musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions compared to male athletes, according to exercise physiologist Vicki Harber in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta...

Cognitive Function In Seniors Improved By Weight Training

Weight-bearing exercises may help minimize cognitive decline and impaired mobility in seniors, according to a new study conducted by the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility at Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia...

Exercise Linked To Healthier Aging: Four New Studies

Four new studies published in a leading journal this week link exercise with healthy aging, either through reduced risk or slower progression of several age-related conditions or through improvements in overall health in older age, and detail associations between physical activity and cognitive function, bone density and overall health...

Soccer Injury Rates Are Increasing In Youths According To New Clinical Report

Youth soccer is one of the most popular team sports in the world and is an effective form of exercise for many children. With the growing popularity of soccer (known as football outside the U.S...

Trackside Transit Workers May Soon Be Sporting RFID Tags To Improve Their Safety.

Bombardier Transportation, McMaster RFID Applications Lab (MRAL) and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) are undertaking a $1.4 million research collaboration to develop location awareness technology that can be used to notify subway vehicles of the exact location of track inspectors and other trackside workers...

Human Running Speeds Of 35 To 40 Mph May Be Biologically Possible

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's record-setting performances have unleashed a wave of interest in the ultimate limits to human running speed. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology offers intriguing insights into the biology and perhaps even the future of human running speed...

Aetna Launches New Team-Based Fitness And Nutrition Program To Help People Achieve Healthy Lifestyles

Aetna (NYSE:AET) today announced a new team-based fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide that uses online social networking to encourage people of all health and fitness levels to work together with their colleagues to achieve their optimal health. Powered by Shape Up The Nation, Aetna Health Connections Get Active!SM is modeled after Aetna's own Get Active Aetna employee program...

Reduced ACL Injury With Cleat/Natural Grass Combination

Athletes put less strain on their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while making a cut on a natural grass surface while wearing a cleat...

Specialized Exercise Regimen At UB Shown To Relieve Prolonged Concussion Symptoms

University at Buffalo researchers are the first to show that a controlled individualized exercise training program can bring athletes and others suffering with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) back to the playing field or to their daily activities...

Misuse Of Protein Supplements By Athletes

Protein supplements don't improve performance or recovery time and, according to a recent study, such supplements are inefficient for most athletes. "They are often poorly used or unnecessary by both high-level athletes and amateurs," says Martin Fréchette, a researcher and graduate of the Université de Montréal Department of Nutrition...

Warning From McMaster Researcher: Concussions Not Taken Seriously Enough

Despite growing public interest in concussions because of serious hockey injuries or skiing deaths, a researcher from McMaster University has found that we may not be taking the common head injury seriously enough...

Eating Habits Of Female Footballers And Consequences For Sporting Activity

For a week Ms Gravina evaluated players from the first two Athletic teams (Superleague and National League), in order to observe their eating habits and where they could improve. The evaluation lasted a week and the studies were carried out on the days prior to the match, on the same day of the game and after the match...

Apart From Lack Of Exercise, Prolonged Periods Of Sitting Are Harmful

In an issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, specialists argue that prolonged periods of sitting are truly detrimental. In addition, we should focus on the harms caused by daily inactivity rather than on the lack of regular exercise alone...

Obesity, Health Concerns Rise As Parks And Recreation Programs Decline

One way to help address the epidemic of obesity in the United States is improved access to pleasant hiking trails and an ambitious parks and recreation program, a recent study suggests, but programs such as this are increasingly being reduced in many states due to budget shortfalls...

Skiers, Snowboarders Should Be Aware Of Injury Risks

As skiers and snowboarders prepare to flock to the slopes, a Geisinger physician offers advice for staying safe this winter season. "There is always a risk of suffering injuries during physical activities, and skiing and snowboarding are no exception," said orthotraumatologist Wade Smith, Vice-Chairman of Orthopedics for Geisinger Health System...

“Alliance To Address The Youth Sports Safety Crisis In America” Summit Raises Awareness Of Health Care And Safety Of Youth Athletes

As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the catastrophic athletic injuries and illnesses among young athletes in the United States, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) spearheaded the Alliance to Address the Youth Sports Safety Crisis in America with the support of 29 other leading health care and sports organizations...

Prolonged TV Viewing Linked To Higher Risk Of Death Even In Regular Exercisers

Researchers in Australia found that prolonged television viewing was linked to an increased risk of death, even in people who exercised regularly, and recommended more be done to encourage people to spend fewer hours sitting still in front of the TV...

How High Can A Climber Go?

The maximum time an athlete is able to continue climbing to exhaustion may be the only determinant of his/her performance. A new European study, led by researchers from the University of Granada, the objective of which is to help trainers and climbers design training programmes for this type of sport, shows this to be the case...

Protecting Skiiers From Avalanche

The inviting expanse of shimmering snow contrasts with the benign blue sky above. The ski instructor briefly goes over the planned run, his first charge glides off into the distance ... and sets off a slab avalanche. The group all look on helplessly as their friend is buried under a wall of snow...

What Is Tendinitis (Tendonitis)? What Causes Tendinitis?

Tendinitis, also known as tendonitis, is the inflammation of a tendon. Tendinitis is a type of tendinopathy - a disease of the tendon. Tendinosis is similar to tendinitis, but requires different treatment. Tendinitis refers to larger-scale acute (sudden, short-term) injuries with inflammation...

A Lifetime Of Inactivity Be The Result Of Having A Negative Phys Ed Teacher

Humiliation in physical education class as a child can turn people off fitness for good, according to a University of Alberta researcher...

Fit VS. Fat: New Research Sheds Light On Debate

Although proper nutrition alone can lead to weight loss, it doesn't necessarily equal true health or fitness, says a new study in the January issue of the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Enette Larson-Meyer, Ph.D., R.D...

1 Solution To Obesity: Muscles That Act As An Energy Drain

Many people have traded in their gas-guzzling old "clunkers" for newer and more efficient models or cut back on energy use at home by opting for Energy Star appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs. But, when it comes to our muscles, a little less efficiency might be just what the doctor ordered, suggests a report in the January Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication...

Strength Training, Self-Management Improve Outcomes For Knee Osteoarthritis

Researchers participating in the Multidimensional Intervention for Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Knee Study) determined that physically inactive, middle-aged people with symptomatic osteoarthritis benefitted equally from strength training regimens, self-management programs, or a combination of the two...

Running In Shoes Stresses Hips, Knees And Ankles More Than Running Barefoot, Study

Researchers in the US who compared the effects on hip, knee and ankle joints of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes, concluded that running in shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or even walking in high-heeled shoes...

Running Shoes May Cause Damage To Knees, Hips And Ankles: Greater Stresses On Joints Than Running Barefoot Or Walking In High-Heeled Shoes Observed

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg...

In The New Year, Get Fit, Don’t Get Hurt

Life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands. Stress can take its toll on a woman's health and spill into the home during the holiday season. In these economic times, tightening budgets during the 'season to be jolly' brings additional stress. There is hope on the horizon, as the New Year provides a fresh opportunity for women to resolve to get a handle on stress...

Don’t Let Arthritis Put The Kibosh On All Exercise (It Hurts More When You Stop)

Achy knees and joints caused by arthritis are not reasons to stop exercising. Regular, modest exercise improves joint stability and strengthens muscles, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. Exercise also improves mood, sleep, energy levels and day-to-day functioning. Best of all, people with arthritis who exercise regularly report less pain...

Negative Emotions Outweigh Intent To Exercise At Health Clubs

Time and time again, it has been documented that regular exercise has many health benefits including lowering risks associated with the comorbidities of obesity...

Long Term Thinkers Make Better Health Decisions

Two US psychologists found that people who tend to think in the long term, who focus on later rewards rather than immediate payoffs, are more likely to make better and positive decisions concerning their health, such as what and how much to eat and drink, exercise regularly, and use sunscreen...

Walk To Burn Off Christmas Calories Urges UK Government

The UK government is urging families to bring back the Christmas day walk to burn off their Christmas dinner calories, and generally be more physically active over the holidays...

What Is Whiplash? What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash, or WAD (whiplash-associated disorders) refers to a series of neck injuries caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck - hyperextension (over-extension) injury to the neck. In many cases whiplash is the result of being struck from behind, for example, by a fast moving vehicle in an automobile accident...

Put Sports Injuries On Ice: Play It Safe And Glide Through The Winter Season

The tragic death of actress Natasha Richardson this past March put a spotlight on the potential risks inherent to skiing, as well as the deadly consequences that can result from head trauma. Richardson died two days after suffering an epidural hematoma and slipping into a coma. What at first appeared to be a minor bump on the head from a fall on a beginner ski slope in Quebec proved fatal...

Athletes Warned Against The Misuse Of NSAIDs

Athletes' superstitions and rituals can help them get psyched up for contests, but when these rituals involve non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which many athletes gobble down before and during events, they could be causing more harm than good...

New Approach Reduces Number Of Routines Needed To Detect Erythropoietins

Austrian researchers have successfully developed a new electrophoretic method for detecting MIRCERA® and other erythropoietins (EPO) in the blood. The technique, using SARCOSYL-PAGE, has specifically enhanced sensitivity for MIRCERA, but does not alter the performance characteristics of SDS-PAGE for detecting other EPOs...

Physical Activity Reduces Disease-Related Fatigue And Depression By Increasing Self-Efficacy Or Mastery

Researchers in the US studying people with chronic diseases found that physical activity may reduce depression and fatigue by increasing self-efficacy, or the belief that one can master physical goals and attain a sense of accomplishment from applying oneself...

Disease-Related Depression And Fatigue Lessened By Mastery Of Physical Goals

Physical activity is known to reduce depression and fatigue in people struggling with chronic illness. A new study indicates that this effect may stem from an individual's sense of mastery over - or belief in his or her ability to achieve - certain physical goals. The study appears in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine...

Exercise Improves Survival Rates For Colorectal Cancer Patients

Men who have been treated for colorectal cancer can reduce their risk of dying from the disease by engaging in regular exercise, according to a new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The findings are published in the December 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine...

Physical Education Teaching Staff Play Key Role In Making You Like Sport

What factors have an influence in making us like sport in the physical education classes we receive in school? According to a new investigation, physical education teaching staff must develop the responsibility, encourage social interaction and avoid making comparisons between the pupils. The objective is to make us feel capable of doing physical exercise and playing sport throughout our lives...

Research Yields Fitness Motivation Tips For A Healthy New Year

As the weather chills and the economy starts getting back into shape, many wannabe exercisers hope to invest in themselves by becoming healthier in 2010. Research from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) provides tips and tricks for staying resolute on those fitness resolutions and enjoying a healthy, happy holiday season. - Plan ahead...

NFL Grant To Strengthen Knee Research

NFL Charities, the charitable foundation of the National Football League, has awarded a grant of $125,000 to UC Davis for research on new ways to repair injured knees. The aim of the work is to engineer new materials to repair the knee meniscus, said Professor Kyriacos Athanasiou, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering...

FIFA Uses Soccer To Teach African Youth About HIV/AIDS, Other Issues

Ahead of next year's World Cup of soccer tournament, FIFA on Saturday in Khayelitsha, South Africa, opened the first of an anticipated 20 centers in Africa aimed at educating the youth about HIV/AIDS and other social issues through the sport, the Associated Press reports (Jacobson, 12/5)...

College Football Linemen Take One For The Team In Terms Of Health

The high-intensity exercise performed by college football linemen does not protect them from obesity, related health problems and the potential for cardiovascular disease later in life, new research suggests. In an assessment of 90 collegiate football players from a single Division I team, only offensive and defensive linemen were deemed obese because they had 25 percent or more body fat...

Fit Teenage Boys Are Smarter

In the first study to demonstrate a clear positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance, Nancy Pedersen of the University of Southern California and colleagues in Sweden find that better cardiovascular health among teenage boys correlates to higher scores on a range of intelligence tests - and more education and income later in life...

Can Exercise Reduce The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease?

Officials at the new Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute announced today the center's participation in a novel Parkinson's study aimed at determining the physical and neurological impact of simple exercise on Parkinson's patients...

Malaria Campaign Kicks Off, Will Coincide With 2010 World Cup Soccer

The United Against Malaria (UAM) campaign, which will work in collaboration with the 2010 Soccer World Cup, was launched Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa, SAPA/IOL reports (12/2)...

Young Adults Who Exercise Get Higher IQ

The results were published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study involved 1.2 million Swedish men doing military service who were born between 1950 and 1976. The research group analysed the results of both physical and IQ tests when the men enrolled. The study shows a clear link between good physical fitness and better results for the IQ test...

Improvement Seen In IQ Of Young Adults Who Exercise

Young adults who are fit have a higher IQ and are more likely to go on to university, reveals a major new study carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The results were published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study involved 1.2 million Swedish men doing military service who were born between 1950 and 1976...

Study Explains How Exercise Helps Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects 5 million individuals in the U.S. and is the leading cause of limb amputations. Doctors have long considered exercise to be the single best therapy for PAD, and now a new study helps explain why...

Too Much Physical Activity May Lead To Arthritis

Middle-aged men and women who engage in high levels of physical activity may be unknowingly causing damage to their knees and increasing their risk for osteoarthritis, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)...

Effect Of Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Sports Beverages On Urinary Stone Risk Factors

UroToday.com - Designer waters are popular in the 21st century and many stone patients ask if they can consume their fluid intake with these products, such as Gatorade. We, as clinicians managing these stone patients, can now be reassured that this fluid is equivalent to water in their daily fluid consumption...

Risks For Football Players Go Beyond Impact

Linemen in college football shield the quarterback from would-be tacklers, but what's to protect these burly linemen from health threats associated with their size? Exercise alone won't do it, according to new research from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)...

Sports And Remedial Therapy To Be Regulated For First Time, UK

From January 2010, for the first time, sports and remedial therapists in the UK will be regulated. The announcement was delivered by the UK wide regulator, the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) which opened its register earlier this year in the interests of protecting the public and setting standards within the industry...

MRSA Entering US Hospitals Via Outpatients Is On The Increase

A new study suggests that community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is on the rise in US hospitals, and is adding to rather than replacing the type of MRSA that arises within hospitals, the hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA); the study authors also found that the entry route for CA-MRSA is via outpatients who pick up the infection in places like gyms, schools and other public places.

Study Pinpoints Causes Of ‘Runner’s Knee’

From professional athletes to weekend warriors, the condition known as "runner's knee" is a painful and potentially debilitating injury suffered by millions of people - although until now, it has been unclear just what causes it. But new research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has zeroed in on what appear to be the main culprits of the condition, formally known as patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Parents Overestimate Child Fitness Levels

Seven in 10 parents (71 per cent) think their children are "active enough" but only one in 10 of their children (10 per cent) say they do the recommended amount of exercise, according to a survey out today from British Heart Foundation (BHF). Nearly 1,000 UK parents with children aged eight to 15 were questioned.

Sports Nutrition And Dietary Supplements Discussed At Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus Briefing

Sports nutrition continues to be a hot topic both in Congress and the news. Because the physical stress from intense exercise increases an athlete's nutrient needs and depletes electrolytes, vitamins and other supplements play a vital role for athletes. However, legal dietary supplements, which are used by more than 150 million Americans, should not be confused with illegal anabolic steroids.

Promising Pharmaceutical Agents Emerge As Sports Doping Products

Researchers from the German Sport University Cologne in Germany found that non-steroidal and tissue-selective anabolic agents such as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are being sold on the black market for their performance enhancing qualities. The availability of authentic SARMs was recently demonstrated for the first time by the detection of the drug candidate Andarine in a product sold via the Internet.

Too Much Salt, Not Enough Exercise

New research has revealed that an alarming number of British people are not following official advice to reduce their salt consumption and take regular exercise in order to reduce their risk of suffering from serious health conditions such as stroke.

Oscar Pistorius’ Artificial Limbs Give Him Clear, Major Advantage For Sprint Running

The artificial lower limbs of double-amputee Olympic hopeful Oscar Pistorius give him a clear and major advantage over his competition, taking 10 seconds or more off what his 400-meter race time would be if his prosthesis behaved like intact limbs. That's the conclusion - released to the public for the first time - of human performance experts Peter Weyand of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Matthew Bundle of the University of Wyoming.

Movea Reveals SmartMotion™ Developer Solution, Accelerating Deployment Of Motion-Sensing Solutions For Healthcare, Sports And Physical Therapy

Movea, the global leader in technology, patents, and products for motion-sensing applications, unveiled its SmartMotion™ Development Kit (SMDK) at MEDICA 2009. The SMDK allows application developers, OEMs, and healthcare researchers to effortlessly add motion-sensing capabilities to their products or R&D projects. The best-in-class solution applies Movea's patented sensor fusion technology to deliver highly accurate measurement of human body orientation and precisely quantified motion.

Five Exercises Reduce Neck Pain Of Women Office Workers

Strength training exercises using dumbbells can reduce pain and improve function in the trapezius muscle, the large muscle which extends from the back of the head, down the neck and into the upper back. The exercises also improve the muscle's ability to respond quickly and forcefully among women suffering trapezius myalgia, a tenderness and tightness in the upper trapezius muscle.

Healthy Older Adults Not At Risk From Exercise-Linked Ventricular Tachycardia

Healthy, older adults free of heart disease need not fear that bouts of rapid, irregular heartbeats brought on by vigorous exercise might increase short- or long-term risk of dying or having a heart attack, according to a report by heart experts at Johns Hopkins and the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Study Recommends That Young Athletes Have Dual Screening Tests For Heart Defects

To best detect early signs of life-threatening heart defects in young athletes, screening programs should include both popular diagnostic tests, not just one of them, according to new research from heart experts at Johns Hopkins. Sudden cardiac death due to heart rhythm disturbances is blamed for more than 3,000 deaths a year in young people, especially athletes who have inherited tendencies to develop overly enlarged and thickened hearts, says Theodore Abraham, M.D.

New National Study Finds More Than Half Of Cheerleading Injuries In U.S. Due To Stunts

Whether rallying the crowd at a sporting event or participating in competition, cheerleading can be both fun and physically demanding. Although integral to cheerleading routines, performing stunts can lead to injury. Stunt-related injuries accounted for more than half (60 percent) of U.S.

The Benefits Of Exercise Discussed In Journal

Physical exercise is one of the most effective methods of preventing disease. The current issue of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106[40]: 713 - 27) is devoted to this important topic. The first article, by Carl D. Reimers and coauthors, deals with the remarkable potential of physical exercise to prevent stroke. In men, exercise lowers the risk of cerebral hemorrhage by 40%, and that of cerebral infarction by 27%.

Motivational Impact Of Virtual Workout Partners

Based on evidence people work harder with a partner than when working alone, a team of Michigan State University researchers are pairing college-age students with a virtual workout partner to study the impact on exercise trends. Deborah Feltz, chairperson of MSU's Department of Kinesiology, is leading a team that will use the Eye Toy camera and PlayStation 2 to measure what characteristics in a virtual partner motivate people to exercise harder, longer or more frequently.

Mother And Baby Benefit From Playing Sport Up To The End Of Pregnancy

Contrary to more conservative customs, exercising up to the end of pregnancy has no harmful effect on the weight or size of the foetus. This is what has been indicated in a study carried out by researchers of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Polytechnic University of Madrid), which also shows the positive relationship between the weight of sedentary mothers before pregnancy and the body size of their babies. The conclusions appear in the International Journal of Obesity.

Enhanced Plasma Shortens Time Off For Injured Athletes

Injured athletes who have their own enriched plasma injected into their bodies are healing faster and spending less time on the bench or on the disabled list. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections involve taking some of the patient's blood and putting it into a centrifuge that spins at high speed and separates and concentrates the platelets. The platelets contain the proteins and other particles involved in the self-healing process.

Use Of Performance Enhancers By Athletes More Likely To Lead To Abuse Of Alcohol, Other Drugs

College athletes who use performance-enhancing substances may be at heightened risk of misusing alcohol and using recreational drugs as well, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study, of 234 male athletes at one university, found that those who used performance enhancers -- ranging from steroids to stimulants to weight-loss supplements -- were more likely to admit to heavy drinking and using drugs like marijuana and cocaine.

Alcohol Industry Should Prove No Harm In Funding Of Sports

Researchers from Australia and the UK are calling for a new approach to the debate over whether alcohol industry sponsorship of sports increases drinking among sports participants. They want to shift the burden of proof to the alcohol industry.

Yoga Linked To Healthy Heart

Researchers in India who compared the heart rate variability of men who practised yoga regularly and men who did not, concluded that practising yoga was associated with a healthier heart because the heart rate variability of the yoga practitioners showed evidence of stronger control by the parasympathetic (vagal) nervous system.

United States Olympic Committee Announces D.I.S.C. Sports And Spine Center As An Official Medical Services Provider

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center today officially announced a strategic partnership in which D.I.S.C. will become an Official Medical Services Provider through the 2012 Olympic Games. With this agreement D.I.S.C. will collaborate with the USOC sports medicine team to develop and implement a comprehensive sports medicine program with unmatched continuity of care to meet the medical needs of America's greatest athletes.

Greater Risk For Injury In Young Tennis Players Who Play Only 1 Sport

Gifted young athletes are under increasing pressure to play only one sport year round. But a new Loyola University Health System study of 519 junior tennis players has found that such specialization increases the risk of injury. Researchers who analyzed 3,366 matches in United States Tennis Association junior competition found that players who specialized in only tennis were more likely to withdraw from tournaments for medical reasons, typically injuries.

ACSM Survey Predicts 2010 Fitness Trends

A lasting trend is developing in health and fitness, according to an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) survey published in the November/December issue of ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal®. The importance of experienced and educated fitness professionals remains the top predicted fitness trend for the third straight year.

New Study Further Disputes Notion That Amputee Runners Gain Advantage From Protheses

A study by six researchers, including a University of Colorado at Boulder associate professor and his former doctoral student, shows that amputees who use running-specific prosthetic legs have no performance advantage over counterparts who use their biological legs. A debate on the matter was spurred when Oscar Pistorius, a bilateral amputee, was barred from the 400-meter dash at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and other able-body races.

Weight Training Boosts Breast Cancer Survivors’ Body Image And Satisfaction With Intimate Relationships

In addition to building muscle, weightlifting is also a prescription for self-esteem among breast cancer survivors, according to new University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine research. Breast cancer survivors who lift weights regularly feel better about bodies and their appearance and are more satisfied with their intimate relationships compared with survivors who do not lift weights, according to a new study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Too Much TV Time Bad For Muscular Fitness Levels

Obesity isn't the only negative side effect of excessive television watching. A new study from the American College of Sports Medicine suggests that young adults who tune in to two hours or more of TV per day have poor muscular fitness. Researchers Niko Paalanne and Tuija Tammelin of Finland studied more than 870 Finnish young men and women around 19 years of age. Subjects' muscular fitness was measured using trunk rotation, trunk flexion, press strength and jumping height.

Sleep Apnea Therapy Improves Golf Game

Golfers who undergo treatment for sleep apnea may improve their golf game as well as their overall health, shows new research. A new study presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that golfers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who received nasal positive airway pressure (NPAP) for their disorder improved their daytime sleepiness scores and lowered their golf handicap by as much as three strokes.

Super Speedy Elite Sprinters With Short Heels

When 100 m sprinters launches themselves from the starting blocks, the race can be won or lost in the first few strides. Acceleration through the first few strides is the key to winning gold.

Healthy Weight And Regular Physical Activity Could Prevent Diabetes For A Decade Says New Research

New research suggests that a period of careful eating and regular physical activity could prevent diabetes for up to a decade. US researchers followed up nearly 3,000 overweight people who had taken part in a three-year diabetes prevention programme. They had initially been divided into three groups, one undertaking a diet and exercise programme, the second taking metformin and the third a placebo. The report noted it was the dieters who reaped the most benefit.

Bodybuilding With Steroids Damages Kidneys

Athletes who use anabolic steroids may gain muscle mass and strength, but they can also destroy their kidney function, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA. The findings indicate that the habitual use of steroids has serious harmful effects on the kidneys that were not previously recognized. Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common.

ACSM President Named Torchbearer For The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

James Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSM, spends most of his days in the classroom, the exercise science lab, or fulfilling his duties as research integrity officer at Michigan State University. But the current President of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) will take on a different a role in January - that of Torchbearer in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Pivarnik was selected for the honor by Coca-Cola, a founding partner of the

Exercise Keeps Dangerous Visceral Fat Away A Year After Weight Loss

A study conducted by exercise physiologists in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Human Studies finds that as little as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or resistance training helps not only to prevent weight gain, but also to inhibit a regain of harmful visceral fat one year after weight loss. The study was published online Oct. 8 and will appear in a future print edition of the journal Obesity.

Major Research Collaboration Will Improve British Athletes’ Performance On World Stage

Scientists are developing a range of miniaturised wearable and track-side sensors, computer modelling tools and smart training devices to help British athletes improve their performance on the world stage, as part of a new £8.5 million project that were officially launched 28 October 2009.

Lymphoma Patients Benefit From Exercise

A healthy dose of exercise is good medicine, even for lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy, University of Alberta researchers have found.

Diet And Hydration Of Sportspeople Improve During Competition, According To Thesis

The main goal of this research was to determine the composition of the ingestion of a group of volunteer skiers, participants in the XXX Andrés de Regil BBK Trophy Mountain Trek and correlate them with their anthropometric blood parameters, and with the time obtained in the trials. The author of the thesis is Ms Elena Díaz Ereño and her work is entitled "The nutritional analysis of the ingestion of competition sportspersons in the period prior and posterior to the competition.

For Bigger Athletes: Potential Future Health Risks

For today's athletes, size and strength can mean the difference between championships, scholarships and million-dollar paydays. But new research comparing the signs of metabolic syndrome in professional baseball and football players, presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, reveals that the larger professional athletes - specifically football linemen - may encounter future health problems despite their rigorous exercise routines.

Fitness Levels Decline With Age, Especially After 45

Men and women become gradually less fit with age, with declines accelerating after age 45, according to a report in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), not smoking and being physically active are associated with higher fitness levels throughout adult life. "The U.S.

Second Of Three Lectures This Fall On Application Of Evolutionary Ideas By Biologist Theodore Garland

Biologist Theodore Garland will give an hour-long lecture, titled "Born to Run: Evolution of Hyperactivity in Mice," at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, in the University Theatre on the UC Riverside campus. Doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is open.

What Are Flat Feet (pes Planus, Fallen Arches)? What Causes Flat Feet?

Most people have a gap under the arch of their foot when they are in a standing position. The arch, the inner part of the foot is slightly raised off the ground. People with flat feet or fallen arches either have no arch, or it is very low. The feet of people with flat feet may roll over to the inner side when they are standing or walking, and the feet may point outwards as a result.

Experts Applaud Physical Activity Guidelines Bill

As debate continues over health system reform, a proposal with vast preventive power is drawing widespread support. Scientists, physicians, public health experts and others have rallied in favor of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act of 2009. The measure (S. 1810 in the Senate and H.R. 3851 in the House), provides that the Department of Health and Human Services update federal physical activity guidelines at least every five years.

After Brain Radiation Exercise Can Aid Recovery

Exercise is a key factor in improving both memory and mood after whole-brain radiation treatments in rodents, according to data presented by Duke University scientists at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. "This is the first demonstration that exercise can prevent a decline in memory after whole-brain radiation treatment," said lead researcher and graduate student Sarah Wong-Goodrich of the Duke Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Concordia University To Build Innovative Centre For Health Research And Training

Judith Woodsworth, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University is delighted to announce the creation of the PERFORM Research Centre. The acronym PERFORM stands for Prevention, Evaluation, Rehabilitation, FORMation. The Centre will become a reality thanks to a grant of $34,972,317 from the Federal and Provincial Governments, through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.

Virtual Training For Rugby Players

Rugby players worldwide could benefit from a new virtual reality training programme created at Queen's University Belfast. Team members from Ulster Rugby have been working with researchers in the School of Psychology at Queen's on a range of virtual training scenarios that test expert players' perceptual skills.

Exercise Reduces Fatigue In Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Supervised exercise programmes that include high and low intense cardiovascular and resistance training can help reduce fatigue in patients with cancer who are undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy or treatment for advanced disease. The exercise training also improves patients' vitality, muscular strength, aerobic capacity and emotional well-being, according to research published on bmj.com.

Preventing Injury By Supervising Strength Training

Half of all Swedish elite volleyball players suffer at least one injury per season. One important reason may be that most players perform injury-preventing strength training unsupervised. This is shown in a new thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. All Swedish elite-level teams were invited to participate in the study, and 158 players returned the questionnaire that had been mailed out near the end of the volleyball season.

Increasing Severity Of Bicycle Injuries Leads To Concerns About Cycling Infrastructure

Record-high gasoline prices, the slowdown in the economy, and increasing environmental sensitivity are leading more people to bike to work or for play. But an adequate infrastructure may not be in place to protect cyclists from serious injury according to surgeons who presented a new study on the issue during a scientific paper session at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

U-M Doctor Working To Get Neurologists In The Game When It Comes To Sports Injuries

On the football field, the hockey rink or wrestling mat, an athletes' head can take a beating -- and a University of Michigan neurologist is leading the charge to help doctors who treat the brain better understand those sports injuries. Jeffrey S. Kutcher, M.D., a sports neurologist and assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School, was influential in getting the American Academy of Neurology to establish a division of sports neurology.

Juggling Boosts Brain Connections

Researchers the UK found that learning to juggle boosts brain connections by making structural changes in the white matter of the brain. They hope the study will help develop new treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis where central nervous system pathways have become degraded.

Exercise Improves Body Image For Fit And Unfit Alike, UF Study Finds

Attention weekend warriors: the simple act of exercise and not fitness itself can convince you that you look better, a new University of Florida study finds. People who don't achieve workout milestones such as losing fat, gaining strength or boosting cardiovascular fitness feel just as good about their bodies as their more athletic counterparts, said Heather Hausenblas, a UF exercise psychologist.

Preventing Sudden Death In Sports By Means Of Genetic Testing: Study Launched

The BBVA Foundation and the Cardiology Service of Madrid's Hospital Clínico San Carlos have launched a new study aimed at detecting DNA alterations linked to sudden cardiac death in sports. Genetic testing is vital if the condition is to be caught in time, since most cases are asymptomatic and hard to diagnose by other means.

What Is Osteochondritis Dissecans? What Causes Osteochondritis Dissecans?

The condition known as osteochondritis dissecans may develop when blood supply to the area at the end of the bone is interrupted. This might not cause any symptoms if the affected bone and its covering of cartilage stay in place. If a fragment progressively loosens and separates, it may provoke pain. Osteochondritis dissecans can occur in different joints, including the elbow, hip and ankle. The knee is most commonly affected.

Exercise Programs Recommended As Standard For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Exercise programs designed to improve strength and stamina are safe and effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. The researchers reviewed dynamic exercise program trials in RA patients and found moderate benefits associated with this type of treatment.

Physical Activity In Adolescence Associated With Decreased Risk Of Brain Cancer In Adulthood

While little is known about the causes of glioma, researchers at the National Cancer Institute have found that this rare but often deadly form of brain cancer may be linked to early life physical activity and height. "Our findings suggest that biological factors related to energy expenditure and growth during childhood may play a role in glioma etiology.

Protect Against Colds With Exercise

As the weather turns colder, the noses turn runnier - but incidence of colds can be greatly reduced by making exercise a part of daily life, according to an expert from the American College of Sports Medicine. David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM, says that multiple studies have shown a 25- to 50-percent decrease in sick time for active people completing at least 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as walking) most days of the week.

Senate Hearing On Steroids And Sports Supplements: Increased Enforcement, Resources Key, Says NPA

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., interim executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), in a Senate hearing in September before the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, called for greater enforcement of the law in keeping illegal steroids marketed as dietary supplements off the market.

Getting Fit While Having Fun

The study Over a period of two years, 30 scientist lead by Associate Professor Peter Krustrup, University of Copenhagen, have investigated physiological, sociological and psychological aspects of women's soccer in comparison to running. 100 untrained adult premenopausal women have participated in the study. The women (65 participated in the physiological study) were randomly divided into three groups: One soccer group, one running group and one control group.

What Is Frozen Shoulder? What Causes Frozen Shoulder? What Is Adhesive Capsulitis?

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition in which the articular shoulder capsule (a sac of ligaments surrounding the joint) swells and stiffens, restricting its mobility. It typically affects only one shoulder, but one in five cases affect both. The term "frozen shoulder" is often used incorrectly for arthritis, even though the two conditions are unrelated.

Tai Chi Can Help People With Diabetes Lower Glucose Levels

A regular tai chi exercise program can help people better control their diabetes and lower glucose levels, according to a University of Florida study.

New Study Reports On Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment And Its Use In Sports Medicine; Cautions More Investigation Needed

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is currently used as an alternative treatment method for several common orthopaedic-related sports medicine conditions. According to a new study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early outcomes of PRP appear promising; however, larger clinical studies are still needed to determine the benefits of its use.

Platelet-Rich Plasma: Does It Work?

Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is currently used as an alternative treatment method for several common orthopaedic-related sports medicine conditions. According to a new study in the October issue of the

Reducing Breast Cancer Risk By Vigorous Exercise

Post-menopausal women who engage in moderate to vigorous exercise have a reduced risk of breast cancer. This comes from researchers writing the open access journal BMC Cancer who investigated the link between breast cancer and exercise. "With an estimated 182,460 new cases diagnosed in the United States in 2008, breast cancer is recognized as the most common cancer affecting U.S. women" says Dr. Tricia M Peters from the U.S.

Many Football Players Begin Practice Dehydrated

A high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts, according to researchers at Indiana State University.

Natural Products Association’s Fabricant To Testify At Senate Hearing On Steroids And Sports Supplements

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., interim executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), will testify today before the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing examining the illegal marketing of steroids as dietary supplements.

New Moms: Exercise Enhances Health During Breastfeeding

New mothers who are breastfeeding their babies may need more aerobic and resistance exercise in order to combat temporary bone loss caused by calcium depletion, says a recently published study from the American College of Sports Medicine. Cheryl Lovelady, Ph.D., and her research team measured bone mineral density in 20 women four to 20 weeks postpartum and found that those who didn't exercise lost around 7 percent of their lower-spine bone density in that time period.

Wearing High Heels, Pumps And Sandals Linked To Women’s Foot Pain In Later Life, Study

New research from the US suggests that wearing shoes such as high heels, pumps and sandals was strongly linked in women's later life with heel and ankle pain. The researchers found nearly 64 per cent of older women who reported hind-foot pain regularly wore such shoes at some point in their lives whereas no link was found between foot pain and the types of shoes men wore. The study was the work of lead author Alyssa B.

National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Fair Practice Lawsuit Settlement Benefits Members

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) announced today that an out-of-court settlement was reached in its Fair Practice Lawsuit against the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) on Sept. 21, 2009. The NATA filed suit against the APTA for antitrust violations that unfairly restricted athletic trainers from practicing manual therapy and gaining access to continuing education courses on manual therapy.

National Academy Of Neuropsychology (NAN) And National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Team Up On Campaign To Raise Concussion Awareness

Concussions are by far the most common, and one of the most difficult to manage injuries seen in sports today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are between 1.6 million and 3.8 million brain injuries that occur in sports each year - and 63,000 occur in high school athletes alone.

Crucial Role Of Macrophages In Muscle Regeneration Uncovered By EMBL Scientists

For scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy, what seemed like a disappointing result turned out to be an important discovery. Their findings, published online this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), provide conclusive proof that, when a muscle is injured, white blood cells called macrophages play a crucial role in its regeneration.

Play It Again Sports Makes Exercise A Family Affair

For parents who want to get their children away from the television or computer screen, Play It Again Sports has a simple solution: Make exercise a family affair. "Many people, both young and old, struggle with getting into a fitness routine," said Pat Quinn, director of Play it Again Sports. "But, when people partner up to exercise with a friend or relative, they often find it easier and more enjoyable to get in the habit of breaking a sweat.

Second Concussion Can Be Serious For Young Athletes

Sustaining a second concussion shortly after a first one can lead to serious problems for young athletes, making it extremely important for players to be correctly diagnosed after being hit in the head. "Second impact syndrome occurs when the brain swells rapidly after a person suffers a second concussion before symptoms of the first concussion have subsided," said Dr. Patrick McCulloch with the Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston.

What Is A Nosebleed? What Causes A Nosebleed?

The medical term for nosebleed is epistaxis. We can also say nasal hemorrhage. The human nose, and those of many animals are rich in blood vessels. Because of the position of the nose - right in the middle of the face - and all its blood vessels, most of us will have had at least one nosebleed at some time during our lives. According to Medilexicon's

Work Out With Friends For A Natural High

Exercise classes or going for a run with a friend will make you feel better than working out alone, according to new research published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters. When we exercise, happiness' hormones called endorphins are released by the body giving us a natural high', a feeling of elation.

Active Older Adults Live Longer, Have Better Functional Status

Older adults who continue or begin to do any amount of exercise appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability, according to a report in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Exercise Better Than Shockwave Treatment For Chronic Shoulder Pain

Supervised exercises are more effective than shockwave treatment to relieve chronic shoulder pain, finds a study published on bmj.com today. Shoulder pain is the fourth most common type of musculoskeletal pain reported to general practitioners and physiotherapists. Treatments often include physiotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroid injections.

Athletes With Smaller ACLs May Be More Susceptible To Injury

A study comparing images of the knees in people who did and didn't have previous injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament suggests that people who tore their ACLs are more likely to have a smaller ligament than do similarly sized people who have never injured a knee. Researchers calculated the total volume of the ligaments based on magnetic resonance images of human knees.

The Benefits Of Exercising For Older Adults

A report in the September issue of Archives of Internal Medicine (one of the JAMA/Archives journals) shows that older adults who maintain or begin any type of physical activity appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability.

ACSM President To Obama: Healthy Lifestyles Key To Prevention

On the heels of President Barack Obama's health care reform speech Sept. 9, the president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) - the largest exercise science organization in the world - is clarifying the meaning of preventive care. James Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM President, stressed in

Virginia Tech Biomedical Engineering Team To Study Knee Ligament Sprains

A team of Virginia Tech engineering researchers has won a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to study knee ligament sprains at the micro-mechanical level.

Regular Aerobic Exercise Reduces Health Concerns Associated With Fatty Liver

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia determined that patients with a sedentary lifestyle who engage in routine physical activities lower their risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The lower risk of problems associated with fatty liver was not contingent upon weight loss, but a direct result from the increased aerobic exercise.

Athletes Should Be Screened For Heart Abnormalities To Prevent Sudden Death

Young athletes should be routinely tested for heart abnormalities to prevent sudden cardiac death that is triggered by vigorous exercise, using a simple protocol, which includes a heart trace (electrocardiogram or ECG). This is the conclusion of several studies in the first of a series of quarterly partnership issues between the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which are dedicated to injury prevention in elite sports.

Yoga Relieves Chronic Lower Back Pain, Study Suggests

US researchers studying people with chronic lower back problems found that those who did Iyengar Yoga were better at overcoming pain and depression than those who followed conventional treatments for lower back pain.

Heart Abnormalities In Athletes: Need For Mandatory Screening To Prevent Sudden Death

Several studies in the first of a series of quarterly partnership issues between the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are dedicated to injury prevention in elite sports. They report that young athletes should be routinely tested for heart abnormalities. This is to prevent sudden cardiac death that is triggered by vigorous exercise, using a simple protocol, which includes a heart trace, such as an electrocardiogram or ECG.

Workout For The Workaholic

For many Americans finding time to get in the recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise can be almost as difficult as discovering the lost city of Atlantis. According to the Loyola Center for Fitness just because you're glued to your desk doesn't mean you can't exercise. "Taking a break from work for even a few minutes can help you feel better and increase your energy level," said Kara Smith, special programs coordinator for the Loyola Center for Fitness.

Athletic Performance Not Found To Be Enhanced By Popular Supplement Quercetin

The antioxidant quercetin is increasingly being marketed as a supplement that boosts athletic performance, but a new University of Georgia study finds that it is no better than a placebo.

Clues To Brain Injury Symptom From YouTube Videos

Brain injury researchers at the University of Kentucky have spent hundreds of hours watching YouTube videos of people getting smacked, punched and knocked in the head during sporting events and recreational activities. But those researchers weren't goofing off on the Internet; they were doing hard science.

Consumers Should Exercise Caution On Fitness Machine Claims, Expert Says

Many exercise equipment advertisers make bold claims about their products' benefits - claims that should be taken with a grain of salt, according to an expert in the September/October issue of a journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. David Swain, Ph.D., FACSM, says if an assertion sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "There is still no 'miracle machine' that will give you the body of a fitness model in just a few minutes per day," Swain said.

High School Football, Wrestling Athletes Suffer Highest Rate Of Severe Injuries

High school football and wrestling athletes experienced the highest rate of severe injuries, according to the first study to examine severe injuries injuries that caused high school athletes to miss more than 21 days of sport participation among a nationally representative sample of high school athletes. Severe injuries accounted for 15 percent of all high school sport-related injuries.

Sudden Death During Sport: Education To Improve Survival Rates

More widespread availability of defibrillators and education of the general public could boost survival rates fourfold amongst athletes suffering cardiac arrest, a study has found. In less than half of cases, a bystander initiated cardiopulmonary reanimation. This is crucial as survival at hospital admission is 4 times higher when CPR is attempted and 10 times greater when an electric shock is delivered.

Animal Study Reveals How Exercise Minimizes Weight Regain

Researchers in the US showed that exercise minimized weight regain in rats that lost weight on a long term diet and were then allowed to eat freely. The evidence suggests that exercise causes the body to burn fat first and store carbohydrates for later, a process that reduces appetite and signals fullness to the brain, leading to slower weight regain.

New Physical Activity Programme Launched, UK

Physical activity is a great way to improve your fitness levels and is an important part of managing both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK has assisted Nuffield Health (formerly Cannons Health Clubs), one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, in developing a programme for people with diabetes, which runs over 12 weeks at 37 Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres.

When It Comes To Sports, Children Are Not The Only Ones In The Game

Parents who sign their children up for sports as part of an educational experience and to learn about teamwork may be learning some of the same lessons themselves, according to new research from Purdue University.

Overweight? Out Of Shape? Join The Military!

While ending the draft in 1973 kept many Americans out of combat, it may have left quite a few fighting a battle for health and fitness. A study published in the September issue of the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) found that six to 12 months of military service helped draftees lose fat, gain muscle and reach a healthy weight. Those who were the most inactive and overweight saw the greatest improvement.

Former International Footballer To Open Independent Living Scotland 2009

Former Glasgow Rangers and England footballer Mark Hateley will be officially opening Independent Living Scotland 2009 at the Glasgow SECC on September 9th at 10:00am. Mark Hateley now works as an official ambassador for Glasgow Rangers. In his career Mar played for Portsmouth, AC Milan, and Monaco before joining Glasgow Rangers where he scored 115 goals in 222 games. Mark also won 32 England caps during his successful career.

Resistance Training For Diabetes Prevention Evaluated By Researchers

Systematic, progressive resistance training - also called strength training - is a safe and efficient way for middle-aged and older adults to improve their health. A Virginia Tech led research team that includes experts in behavior, exercise, physiology, and medicine is designing a program to help pre-diabetic adults begin and, most important, maintain resistance training in order to prevent diabetes.

Game Day Injections May Have More Benefits Than Drawbacks For Athletes

Game day injections work like a magic pain relief bullet for some athletes but they may also pose complications if not administered correctly or if the individual does not comply with doctor guidelines, reveals a new clinical review published in the September/October issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

Three Steps For Healthy Feet

We ask a lot of our feet, we take them for granted and scarcely give a thought to how best to keep them healthy until something goes wrong. In this month's Harvard Health Letter, there is a four page article about how feet work and "three steps" on how to look after them from Dr. James Ioli, chief of podiatry at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and colleagues.

“Boxing Should Be Banned From Olympics”, Says Brain Injury Charity

Headway - the brain injury association has reacted to the news that women's boxing could be added to the Olympic programme by calling for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to remove all forms of boxing from the rostrum of sports. "We are deeply concerned to hear that the IOC is considering adding women's boxing to the Olympic programme," said Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway.

Bridging The Health GAP: Connecting The Doctor’s Office And The Gym

Interweaving the worlds of doctors, fitness professionals and patients into one model platform for optimum health and fitness has long been a challenge for proponents of healthy lifestyles. But a new partnership between the Exercise is Medicine™ global initiative and Anytime Fitness, the world's largest co-ed fitness chain, aims to do just that and demonstrate how exercise can help solve America's health care crisis.

Experts Debunk Myth About Exercise, Weight Loss

Leading experts in exercise and weight management have taken strong exception to assertions that exercise can inhibit weight loss by over-stimulating the appetite. According to John Jakicic, Ph.D., FACSM, "There is strong evidence from the majority of the scientific literature that physical activity is an important component for initial weight loss.

New Study Finds Links Between Video-Game Playing And Health Risks In Adults

While video gaming is generally perceived as a pastime for children and young adults, research shows that the average age of players in the United States is 35.

Football Injuries In U.S. High School Athletes More Severe During Kickoff, Punting

Injuries can occur during a sporting competition at any time. However, new research finds that during football, injuries sustained at the beginning or middle of a game are more severe compared to injuries sustained during the end or in overtime. This finding suggests that the changes of intensity throughout competition influence risk of severe injury. The beginning of a football game accounted for 16 percent of injuries, with 54 percent occurring during the middle of the game.

After 9 Days In Rat Model, High-Fat Diet Affects Physical And Memory Abilities

Rats fed a high-fat diet show a stark reduction in their physical endurance and a decline in their cognitive ability after just nine days, a study by Oxford University researchers has shown. The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and published in the FASEB Journal, may have implications not only for those eating lots of high-fat foods, but also athletes looking for the optimal diet for training and patients with metabolic disorders.

Taking Dex Can Improve High Altitude Exercise Capacity In Certain Climbers

Taking dexamathasone prophlyactically may improve exercise capacity in some mountaineers, according to Swiss researchers. Dexamathasone, known popularly to climbers as "dex," has been used for years to treat altitude-related symptoms in mountaineers, but has never been tested for its ability to improve exercise capacity at high altitude.

Leading Exercise Scientist Points To Increasing Evidence That Sedentary Lives Can Be Deadly

As many as 50 million Americans are living sedentary lives, putting them at increased risk of health problems and even early death, a leading expert in exercise science told the American Psychological Association. Speaking at APA's 117th Annual Convention, Steven Blair, PED, called Americans' physical inactivity "the biggest public health problem of the 21st century.

What Is My Ideal Weight? How Much Should I Weigh?

A person's ideal body weight is determined by several factors, such as age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and bone density. Some say your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the ideal way to calculate whether your body weight is ideal. Others say BMI is faulty as it does not take into account muscle mass, and waist-hip ratio is better. One person's ideal body weight may be completely different from another's.

Beetroot Juice Boosts Stamina, UK Study

A new study from the UK suggests that beetroot juice boosts stamina and could help you exercise for 16 per cent longer because the nitrate it contains reduces oxygen uptake which make exercise less tiring. The scientists believe the finding will be of interest not only to athletes but also to elderly people and those with metabolic, respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

The Fitness Revolution – Launch Of The UK’s First Dedicated Health And Fitness Channel

The fight against obesity has stepped up a gear with the launch of the UK's first dedicated health and fitness channel bringing exercise classes into the nation's living rooms. Fitness TV, which launched this week (4th August 2009), will feature an ever-changing timetable of workouts from some of the country's top instructors, as well as general programmes offering health and nutrition tips.

Dietary Supplements With Steroids Pose Health Danger: Case Studies

Three cases of patients suffering from the adverse affects of steroid-enriched dietary supplements have been reported by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital. The cases, which include patients with liver injury and renal failure, are discussed in the current issue of The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. The U.S.

Groundbreaking Study Shows Exercise Benefits Leukemia Patients

One of the most bothersome symptoms of leukemia is extreme fatigue, and asking these patients to exercise doesn't sound like a way to help them feel better. A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that exercise may be a great way to do just that, combating the debilitating fatigue that these patients experience.

New National Study Finds Increase In P.E. Class-Related Injuries

Physical education (PE) in schools is one of the main tools used to increase physical activity and to prevent childhood obesity, and PE-related injuries are on the rise. Although increasing physical activity may reduce obesity, it may also increase the risk of injury. While recognizing that PE classes and physical activity are important components in combating obesity, parents and school administrators should remain vigilant for injuries.

K-State Researchers Say After-School Programs Should Promote Activity, Healthy Nutrition

Children's after-school activities often consist of sedentary behavior such as watching television, but after-school programs that offer physical activity and healthy snacks could be the best place for children's health. David Dzewaltowski, head of the department of kinesiology at Kansas State University, and other K-State researchers have found that quality after-school programs are an important contributor to children's physical activity.

« Previous Page — Next Page »