Exercise and Fitness Archive

The original Presidential Physical Fitness Test consisted of five exercises: a one-mile run, pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups, shuttle run, and sit-and-reach. The test gauged upper-body and core strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility for America's youth. Still, with some modifications, older adults can use the test to assess a baseline of their fitness and identify areas where they need to improve.

Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition. It can make people feel lightheaded, faint, unsteady, or like the room is spinning. Common conditions causing vertigo include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraines, vestibular neuritis, and Meniare's disease. People should see a doctor after a single vertigo episode to determine the cause. Depending on the cause, treatments might include medications, a canalith repositioning procedure, vestibular therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Staying active, not sedentary, between episodes can help people with vertigo feel better.

Wondering how to save money, stay cooler, and be kinder to our planet during a long, hot summer? These five tips help ensure maximum fun and suggest ways to stay comfortable and safe this summer while making sustainable choices to benefit the environment.

Every year, more than 4,500 people die from drowning in the United States. Swimming lessons help save lives and parents should know how to choose the right program and encourage children to learn skills that will help them to stay safe at the beach and around ponds or pools.

Like kayaking or canoeing, paddleboarding provides a serious workout. But before you head out on the water, you'll want to get some key muscle groups in shape, especially ones that probably have not been used much during winter.

In a 2024 study, people who exercised at least twice a week (for a total of at least an hour), for 10 years were less likely to report difficulty falling asleep or sleeping for less than six hours a night compared with people who were inactive for 10 years.

Kettlebells can add depth to home workouts as they are easily stored and can be used to perform virtually any type of movement for an all-around workout that hits the major muscles. Kettlebells look like balls or bells with handles on top and range in weight from five to 30 pounds and higher. While they can function similarly to dumbbells, kettlebells can provide a more challenging workout, as a person needs muscle strength, balance, core stability, flexibility, and coordination to control its weight.

Practicing the deep low squat, commonly known as the "Asian squat," can improve lower back strength, flexibility, and mobility at the hips, knees, and ankles.

A 2023 report warns that pickleball and other racquet sports can expose older adults to the risk of eye injuries, but wearing protective, shatterproof eyewear when playing can offer a layer of safety.