Category Archives: Sports and Fitness

Tee Up Your Golf Game Without Hitting the Links

Your favorite green golf course is covered in white snow and ice. While your friends in warmer climates continue to improve their games, your clubs remain in the closet. But cold weather does not mean you cannot work on becoming a better golfer. Mental and physical strength can be honed throughout the year. As winter […]

Use Your Head with Concussions

In recent years, concern has risen about the long-term impact of concussions, traumatic brain injury usually brought about by direct impact to the head or by severe, violent shaking of the upper body. In most cases, a concussion has little to no lasting effect, but repeated or severe blows can have long-term or even permanent […]

Take Heart: Exercising with Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) forces patients to make significant life changes. And because the heart is a muscle and exercise is a vital part of heart health, it seems natural that physical therapy would be a great asset for these patients. But whether and how much physical therapy can help CHF patients depends on a […]

Does Running Cause Arthritis?

For years, runners have been warned that their favorite fitness activity puts them at risk for future arthritis. Today, however, many experts say that is not the case. While some studies have suggested that athletes who train rigorously may experience eventual deterioration of the leg joints, others have concluded that adults who run recreationally are […]

To Stretch or Not to Stretch?

In the past, everyone was taught to stretch before engaging in physical activity. Now, however, researchers say that certain popular stretching routines are not only ineffective as warm-ups but can sometimes leave you even more vulnerable to injury. There are two types of stretching techniques. Dynamic stretches are aerobic exercises of light-to-moderate intensity that stimulate […]

How Safe Are High-intensity Training Programs?

Is it safe to perform high-intensity training programs, such as “Insanity”? The answer is affirmative, but only under certain conditions, and even if you meet those criteria, it might not be a good idea. Before even considering whether to engage in a high-intensity training program, ask yourself why you are considering such a program. For […]

Hit the Ground Running After a Long Hiatus

In your youth, it may have been possible for you to sporadically run 5k races without any prior training regimen. Young bodies, blessed with the gift of superior metabolism, increased flexibility, and strong muscles and joints, can withstand a lot of abuse. But from our 30s on, our lung and muscle elasticity, bone density, muscle […]

The Naked Truth About Barefoot Running

Barefoot running, also known as minimalism or natural running, is simply running without shoes or in thin-soled shoes. Proponents say our bodies and feet evolved to run with forefoot or midfoot striking. Running in shoes results in our heels’ striking first. Barefoot running is therefore a more “natural” experience, with barefoot running advocates arguing that […]

Tee Off Against Golfer’s Elbow

You may have heard of tennis elbow, but golfer’s elbow is a less common problem that can affect not only golfers whose swings have imperfections but anyone who performs intensely repetitive tasks requiring wrist flexion, such as painting walls, hammering, typing on a keyboard or even cooking. It may also result from improper form during […]

Extreme Running—Too Much of a Good Thing

Common wisdom says that running is good exercise. It relieves stress, helps control weight and promotes cardiovascular health. But, now, a 2012 study published in the prestigious Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that too much running may be bad for your health and could, in fact, kill you. So, how much running is too much? The […]