Recent Blog Articles
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5 great tips for sustainable summer living
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How health care leaders can prioritize health equity for the LGBTQIA2+ community
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One surprising effect of wildfires: itchy, irritated skin
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Orienteering: Great exercise and better thinking skills?
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Health care should improve your health, right?
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Ultra-processed foods? Just say no
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The cicadas are here: How's your appetite?
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Life can be challenging: Build your own resilience plan
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Bugs are biting: Safety precautions for children
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Power your paddle sports with three great exercises
Exercise & Fitness Archive
Articles
Should I stand while I read?
Taking an hourly break from reading a book to walk around or listening to audiobooks while walking can provide the health benefits of book reading without incurring the health risks of prolonged sitting.
Large study indicates racket sports offer best protection against cardiac death
In a large United Kingdom study, regularly practicing racket sports, swimming, or aerobics significantly reduced the risk of dying over eight to 13 years.
Fitness trackers: A path to a healthier heart?
New, improved devices and apps may better guide you to exercise at the right intensity to help your heart.
Image: LDProd /Thinkstock
Perhaps the best-known problem with fitness trackers is that people often retire them to a junk drawer after a few months, once the novelty of using them wears off. But that's not the only shortcoming with these devices, which are typically worn around the wrist or clipped to clothing.
Sure, they'll count your steps, display your heart rate, and even estimate how many calories you've burned—although you'll probably need to sync your tracker with an app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer to see these data. However, very few of the popular free apps of this type are grounded in published evidence. And they don't necessarily follow well-established exercise guidelines. Even if you do meet recommended daily exercise goals—like 30 minutes of brisk walking or 10,000 steps—how do you know if you're really working your heart enough to keep it healthy? And what if you've been sedentary for years or have a chronic medical condition—can an app help you exercise safely?
Pedal your way to a healthier heart?
People who bike to work or cycle for pleasure may have a slightly lower risk of heart disease compared with noncyclists.
Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership?
If you are ready to make a commitment to improve your fitness and health, joining a gym gives you a wide variety of options for equipment and types of workouts. This can help you sidestep workout boredom and help you meet recommended physical activity guidelines. But before you sign up, take time to ask questions to be sure the gym meets your needs and budget.
Indoor cycling for older adults
Today's high-tech stationary bikes are ridden at top speed, with instructors telling cyclists when to coast, sprint, and climb.
 Image: JackF/Thinkstock
One of the hottest trends among the workout set springs from your old stationary bicycle. The new use for old wheels is a supercharged cardio workout called indoor cycling or Spinning (its trademarked name). First popular in the 1990s, the activity is still going strong and is now popular among older adults. "Many classes are specifically for seniors, with instructors who are familiar with modifications for your age group," says Jacob Girlinghouse, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
The workout and benefits
Is it right for you?
While indoor cycling classes are safe for most people, get your doctor's okay first, especially if you have a heart problem. If you have an injury, pain in your neck or back, or any serious medical conditions, it may be a good idea to ride a regular stationary bicycle at your own pace until your pain subsides. If you are unsure, ask your physician or your physical therapist.
If you have balance problems, a Spinning class can be a safe alternative to other forms of cardiovascular exercise because you exercise while seated. "If your balance is good enough to get on and off the bike safely, then you should be good to go. However, if you feel unsteady when mounting or dismounting, a stationary recumbent bike might be a better option for you," says Girlinghouse.
Making it work
Walking program linked to reduced disability
It appears that adopting a regular routine of moderate physical activity, such as walking, helps older adults remain mobile longer and may also help them to recover faster from physical disabilities.
Are heart attack triggers real?
A large international study of people around the world suggests that extreme physical exertion or emotional upset may be triggers for a heart attack.
Your New Year’s resolution: A gym membership?
What to consider when choosing a workout venue.
 Image: vencavolrab/Thinkstock
If getting in shape tops your list of New Year's resolutions, you're in good company. During the first few months of the year, sign-ups at fitness centers and health clubs tend to trend upward. While these memberships can be costly, you may be able to find more affordable options or take advantage of discounts. But no matter what you pay, shelling out a monthly fee may encourage you to use the gym regularly to get your money's worth. If you do, your heart will likely reap the rewards: regular exercise is one of the best ways to boost cardiovascular health.
"The main advantage to joining a gym is to have access to a wide variety of exercise equipment," says Alex Petruska, a senior physical therapist at the Sports Medicine Center of Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. That includes machines for a cardiovascular workout, such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair steppers, as well as a variety of weight machines.
Are wristwatch-style heart rate monitors accurate?
Wristwatch-style fitness monitors use a sensor that detects blood flow through the skin to estimate a person’s heart rate. Some brands are more accurate that others, but none are as accurate as chest-strap monitors.
Recent Blog Articles
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15375/conversions/71da1de7-3c71-4341-9f3a-810d2deb31c6-micro.jpg)
5 great tips for sustainable summer living
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15367/conversions/0f11bddf-8146-4805-ab1c-53b6561c24fd-micro.jpg)
How health care leaders can prioritize health equity for the LGBTQIA2+ community
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15357/conversions/f951361f-c837-4704-a143-0f9b207ed1d9-micro.jpg)
One surprising effect of wildfires: itchy, irritated skin
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14057/conversions/120519c1-033d-4843-b85b-af90955c3f9a-micro.jpg)
Orienteering: Great exercise and better thinking skills?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15309/conversions/a32d083c-d4b8-4a24-8a4f-f05d4d394dd1-micro.jpg)
Health care should improve your health, right?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15310/conversions/50802077-6dd5-461e-a720-a04899353d48-micro.jpg)
Ultra-processed foods? Just say no
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15303/conversions/4304af30-c59b-4dc8-ac93-f4ac1c590752-micro.jpg)
The cicadas are here: How's your appetite?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15304/conversions/384b5a4a-770a-47f3-b8e5-9422e290d096-micro.jpg)
Life can be challenging: Build your own resilience plan
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/11415/conversions/9ca5a45a-7ad8-48a0-9f1a-08bdd7e2091f-micro.jpg)
Bugs are biting: Safety precautions for children
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12577/conversions/320556aa-870b-4186-8366-49e0a3b4f290-micro.jpg)
Power your paddle sports with three great exercises
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