Over half of patients receiving chemotherapy treatment experience numbness, tingling, pain, cold sensitivity, and motor impairment in their hands and feet. In this study, which featured over 300 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, those who participated in a six-week walking and resistance training program reported a significant reduction in their neuropathy symptoms. Supportive Care in Cancer,…

Japanese researchers followed 7,804 adult males for over 20 years and found that those with higher fitness levels throughout the course of the study had up to a 53% lower risk for developing diabetes in comparison with participants who led mostly sedentary lives. Journal of Epidemiology, December 2017

Researchers have discovered the first definitive evidence that exercise can change gut microbial composition independent of diet. In the study, researchers followed 18 lean and 14 obese sedentary adults for six weeks while they maintained their normal diet. A comparison of pre- and post-study fecal samples revealed increases in concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, which…

In a recent study, investigators examined the impact of a workplace intervention that addressed organizational, physical environment, and individual behavioral changes to help reduce sitting time among employees in an office setting. The approach led to a significant reduction in sitting time during work hours and throughout the day—improvements that persisted for up to a…

In a small study involving 18 men and women, researchers found that female bodies are more efficient at delivering oxygen to the muscles. Researcher Dr. Richard Hughson explains, “We found that women’s muscles extract oxygen from the blood faster, which, scientifically speaking, indicates a superior aerobic system.” Lead author Dr. Thomas Beltrame adds, “The findings…

A new study that evaluated the lifestyles of 132 university students found a link between increased physical fitness and reduced alcohol consumption. This suggests that programs aimed at encouraging increased physical activity could reduce alcohol consumption among college students. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, December 2017

Patients under care for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who participated in a twelve-week supervised aerobic exercise program achieved greater improvements in regards to OCD symptom severity, depression, and anxiety than patients who simply attended health education classes. The authors of the study conclude, “The results of this preliminary study suggest that exercise and health-focused interventions may…

According to experts from the Mayo Clinic, regular brisk walking can help one maintain a healthy weight; prevent or manage various chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes; strengthen bones and muscles; improve one’s mood; and improve one’s balance and coordination. They add that the faster, further, and more…

In this study, researchers assigned 130 overweight people to one of four groups: a cycling group, a moderate-intensity leisure-time exercise group, a high-intensity leisure-time exercise group, and a control group that did not exercise. The cycling group rode an average of 8.7 miles (14 kg) per day, the high-intensity group exercised about 35 minutes per…

When cold weather approaches, you don’t have to give up jogging or head indoors to run on a treadmill. To keep your outdoor running on track in the chillier months, the American Podiatric Medical Association recommends the following: wear warm, light-weight, moisture-wicking clothing to keep yourself warm and dry, including a hat and gloves; shorten…