Harvard University offers the following tips to help make exercise a daily habit: piece your workout together, such as getting 10 minutes in the morning, noon, and night; exercise with a friend; take a walk during lunch; use a pedometer to keep track of steps and record daily totals; turn off the TV, computer, and…

While we often associate summer break as a time for kids to go outside and play, a recent study found that six- to nine-year-old children spend about 50% fewer minutes each day engaged in either moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity during this time. Frontiers in Public Health, January 2021

Handgrip strength is a tool used by researchers to estimate an individual’s overall fitness level. A study that reviewed health records of over 3,000 middle aged and older adults identified an association between reduced grip strength and greater calcium build-up in the aortic artery, a risk factor for heart disease. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases,…

A survey of 866 university students revealed that regular exercise may provide the following benefits in young adults: earlier bedtime, faster bed-to-sleep time, and improved sleep quality; a positive outlook on life; and reduced anxiety, anger, and depression. Health, Education, & Behavior, February 2021

Older women who participated in a four-week Tai Chi program reported improvements in vigor, mood, and sleep that persisted up to four weeks following the conclusion of the intervention. Research in Sports Medicine, January 2021

The result of a recent experiment suggests that lifting weights in the week preceding a surgical procedure can offset the amount of muscle loss that is often observed in older adults following a week of post-surgical bed rest. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, December 2020

New guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend that individuals with heart disease should engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week in addition to strength training at least three times a week if they also have hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or are obese. European Society of Cardiology, August 2020

Grip strength is often used in scientific research as an indicator of physical function/fitness. In a study that included 867 teens and young adults, researchers observed an association between weak grip and an increased risk for depressive symptoms. The findings add to a growing body of research linking physical and mental health. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders,…

Among a group of 47 patients at elevated risk for osteoporosis, those who took part in a six-month impact and resistance training program experienced increased muscle strength and improved bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (3.8%) and femoral neck (2.3%). Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, July 2020

Among a group of 8,002 middle-aged and older adults, researchers observed that the least active participants were 82% more likely to die from cancer over the following five years than those with the highest physical activity levels. JAMA Oncology, June 2020