Tag Archives: health and wellness

Nothing Odd About Eccentric Exercise

When you hear the term “eccentric,” you may think of a quirky aunt or a piece of shabby but chic furniture. In the physical therapy world, however, this term has a much different and very important meaning. Eccentric exercise—active contraction of a muscle while it is lengthening—has gained popularity in recent years among both athletes […]

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 […]

Regain Your Knee and Gain the Pounds?

It sounds counterintuitive. You have surgery that makes it easier to be active and mobile, and then you begin to gain weight. But that is exactly what recent studies have suggested: Patients who have knee replacement surgeries have a 60% chance of gaining 5% or more of their body weight within five years. The good […]

The Golden Age of Fitness

As we get older, we may still feel young mentally, but after age 50 or so, we must acknowledge that our bodies need slightly different physical accommodations than we did earlier in our exercising lives. Working out reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer, depression and type 2 diabetes, for starters. […]

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 […]

How Much Exercise Is Enough?

Every few years, the U.S. government releases recommendations on how much exercise Americans should be doing. Thirty minutes of moderate activity every day might be a worthy goal, but it is easy to think, “Why bother?” if you cannot seem to fit a half-hour workout into your daily schedule. If this sounds like you, keep […]

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 […]

Dialysis and Exercise: A Perfect Match

Patients often ask whether they can exercise while undergoing dialysis. The answer is yes, with permission of your physician. Staying as fit as possible reduces the likelihood of hospitalizations and improves quality of life. It is a natural mood elevator and can help relieve the depression that can accompany dialysis dependency. Since patients on dialysis […]

To Lunge or Not to Lunge?

When performed correctly, the lunge exercise can strengthen a wide range of muscles. The lunge challenges stability, which is what makes it so effective. A body attempting to remain balanced engages many muscle groups, from the hamstrings to the calves to the core. That makes the lunge a highly effective exercise for people needing to […]