Emphasis in this study by researchers in Spain was on walking, the most common form of physical activity. Continue reading Hospitalization rate based on changes in physical activity in people with COPD
Category Archives: Walking
Walking vs weights for the metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
During the Endocrine Society meeting, researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City presented the results of a comparison of aerobic training (eg, walking) vs resistance training (eg, weights). Continue reading Walking vs weights for the metabolic syndrome
Watch your “step count”
Researchers in Australia and the US investigated the association between the change in daily step count and adiposity and insulin sensitivity. Continue reading Watch your “step count”
Any benefits of strength training in cerebral palsy?
Not in children and adolescents according to this review by researchers at The University of Sydney, in Australia. Continue reading Any benefits of strength training in cerebral palsy?
Pedometers help improve glucose intolerance
Researchers from the University of Leicester, in the UK put the pedometer through its paces.
Continue reading Pedometers help improve glucose intolerance
Health behaviors can affect your longevity
Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK looked at the potential combined impact of 4 health behaviors. Continue reading Health behaviors can affect your longevity
Let’s chronicle the health benefits of walking
Dr. James Levine from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has reviewed the evidence. Here are the benefits. Continue reading Let’s chronicle the health benefits of walking
Non-pharmacological treatments for breathlessness
 Here are the results of a Cochrane review of non-drug options in advanced stages of malignant and non-malignant diseases. Continue reading Non-pharmacological treatments for breathlessness
OARSI recommendations for treating osteoarthritis
The OsteoArthritis Research Society International (OARSI) is a nonprofit scientific professional organization that promotes research in osteoarthritis. Continue reading OARSI recommendations for treating osteoarthritis
Music helps breathing in people with COPD
Get out your MP3 player if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
As the researchers from the University of Hamburg state in their ivory tower way, “Auditory distraction might… serve as an intervention for the reduction of dyspnea [difficulty breathing] during exercise in this patient group.” Continue reading Music helps breathing in people with COPD
Recommendations from Harvard for bone health
The Harvard Women’s Health Watch has published recommendations to lower the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis.
I supplemented their recommendations with references. Continue reading Recommendations from Harvard for bone health
More positive news about pedometers and weight loss
Pedometer-based walking programs — even without going on a diet — result in modest weight loss. Continue reading More positive news about pedometers and weight loss
A stepwise approach to fibromyalgia therapy
Dr. Don Goldenberg from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts has a video and print slide program on Medscape that reviews evidence-based treatments for fibromyalgia.
The emphasis is on drugs, but more interesting is his support for a combined drug/CAM approach to treatment. Continue reading A stepwise approach to fibromyalgia therapy
Status of CAM to treat the frailty syndrome
There’s a need, but no well-documented evidence.
Researchers from the Miami VA Medical Center in Florida have complied a detailed review. Continue reading Status of CAM to treat the frailty syndrome
Are walking and yoga beneficial during menopause?
It’s controversial, but Dr. Steriani Elavsky, assistant professor of kinesiology at Penn State University, claims that a walking or yoga program can have a positive effect — including fewer hot flashes — in women in menopause.
Here is an article about the study and here is the abstract.
Continue reading Are walking and yoga beneficial during menopause?
Pram walking to treat postpartum depression
A pram is a baby carriage and an abbreviation of “perambulator” — a person who tours on foot.
Anyway, pram walking is popular in Australia as a way for groups of women with postpartum depression to go out with their babies, get some exercise, talk, and hopefully make progress to resolve their depression. Continue reading Pram walking to treat postpartum depression
How to encourage people to walk more
Although walking has health benefits, 80% of American adults report walking only 10 minutes at a time at least 1 day per week.
From Medscape, here’s what works to get them moving. Continue reading How to encourage people to walk more
CAM preferences among children with chronic pain
You won’t be surprised to learn that pain of longer duration and greater impairment make children more willing to use CAM.
But which CAM options do they choose? Continue reading CAM preferences among children with chronic pain
The value of physiotherapy following stroke
Physiotherapy (or physical therapy) is defined as the treatment of disease by physical exercise, massage, or other manipulative body-based methods — not drugs. Wikipedia has a good overview.
Cochrane has judged the evidence. Continue reading The value of physiotherapy following stroke
Getting “enough” exercise
It’s the eternal argument: How do we get the benefits while minimizing the risks?
For those of us in middle age, I think this article at USNews.com by Helen Hobson brings reason to the debate. Continue reading Getting “enough” exercise