Harvard Medical School Commentaries: Focus on Fitness
Jan62010
The Aerobic Side of Fitness
What Defines a Fit Person? ... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Stretching To Stay Flexible
Whether you exercise daily or only once in a while, make stretching part of your regular routine. Stretching increases the range of motion of your muscles and joints, including the joints in the neck... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Returning to Exercise After Injury
Whether you are a competitive athlete or someone who exercises regularly to stay in shape, you will almost surely have to deal with an injury that interrupts your daily routine. And too often the... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Keep Your Digestive System in Shape
In recent years many products have been touted for rejuvenating the intestinal tract and enhancing digestive health through "colon detoxification and cleansing." But despite the glowing claims,... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Don't Let Osteoarthritis Keep You Down
Stiff hands, swollen knees, aching back? Would anyone with these types of joint problems want to exercise? Why make the joints hurt more? These are just a few symptoms that a person with... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Fighting Peripheral Arterial Disease Through Exercise
Do your legs hurt or become cramped while walking? When you stop to rest does the pain go away, but return when you start to move again? You may be experiencing classic symptoms of intermittent... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec82009
Don't Be a Wheelchair Potato!
Are you a wheelchair potato, or a competitive sports wheeler? A variety of conditions such as stroke, arthritis and multiple sclerosis may result in a person being restricted to a wheelchair.... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec22009
Don't Make Your Vacation A Holiday From Exercise
Winter vacation season is here. Pack your bags. Get your ticket. Don’t forget your passport. Wait a minute! Did you grab your exercise gear? ... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec22009
Spin Your Way to Fitness
Group cycling has become incredibly popular. Started by Johnny Goldberg (known in the trade as Johnny G) in the 1980s, the number of participants has doubled from about 1 million six years ago to... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec22009
Strength Training for All Ages
The older we become, the less likely we are to engage in physical activity of any kind. The numbers are staggering. In another 25 years, there will be 70 million Americans ages 65 and older. And... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Tighten Those Abs!
Did you ever wonder how Arnold Schwarzenegger got those abs in his movie Pumping Iron? He has the same muscles as you and I do, but most of us would never believe it.
Abs is the nickname that refers... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Fluid Replacement and Exercise
Sport and athletic associations have stopped promoting the old mantra of "drink as much as possible." Instead, they have stressed the importance of proper fluid intake before, during and after... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Fitness for Children and Teens
Kids seem busier than ever. Parents are shuttling them from one activity to the next right after school and on weekends. But if children and teens are so busy, why are they putting on so much weight?... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Managing Diabetes Through Exercise
If you are living with diabetes and trying to manage your condition, there is one weapon in your arsenal you may not have considered — exercise.
Diabetes occurs when the body loses the ability to... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Burning Calories With Exercise
People choose to exercise for a variety of reasons: to feel more energetic during the day, because they enjoy the challenge of becoming fit, to get the health benefits, and because they want to look... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Mar52009
Plyometric Exercise
Ever wonder what gives basketball players their explosive jumping power, or how soccer players get those sudden bursts of speed and agility? For years athletic trainers and conditioning coaches have... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Dec142008
The Metabolic Syndrome: A Menace to Men's Health
Metabolic syndrome isn't as well known as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer when it comes to health threats to American men. But if present trends continue, that's likely to change. Why? Because... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Nov302008
Improving Low Back Pain With Exercise
About seven out of every 10 adults develop back pain at least once in their lives. But despite how common this affliction is, the actual specific cause of back pain remains unknown 85% of the time.... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Nov302008
Lower Your Blood Pressure With Exercise
Regular exercise is a great way to prevent high blood pressure or hypertension. But did you know it's also one of the best means of lowering high blood pressure? It may even help you avoid having to... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Nov302008
Exercising During Pregnancy (Part 2 of 2)
Group cycling has become incredibly popular. Started by Johnny Goldberg (known in the trade as Johnny G) in the 1980s, the number of participants has doubled from about 1 million six years ago to... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct142008
Can Nutritional Supplements Enhance Athletic Performance? (Part 1 of 2)
Performance-enhancing dietary supplements are regularly used by competitive athletes and daily exercisers. Surveys indicate that 75% of college athletes and almost 100% of body builders use at least... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct132008
Can Nutritional Supplements Enhance Athletic Performance? (Part 2 of 2)
There are over 100 compounds advertised to be supplemental "ergogenic aids," substances you eat that improve your use of energy, increase energy production, or shorten the time needed to recover from... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct122008
You're Never Too Old or Too Frail to Exercise
Not only are people living longer, but a greater number of people are living healthier well into their 80's and 90's. No matter how healthy we've become, however, at some point we all have to adapt... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct112008
Dance Your Way to Fitness
Are you bored with the treadmill or elliptical trainer or uncomfortable in a weight training room? Try achieving your weight loss goals or spicing up your current fitness routine through dance.... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct112008
Exercising During Pregnancy (Part 1 of 2)
Give yourself and your baby a head start. With a prenatal exercise routine you can improve posture, reduce back pain, get energized, and prepare for labor. Exercise also helps to prevent some of the... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct72008
Don't Take Breast Cancer Lying Down (Part 2 of 2)
In Part 1 I discussed why exercise is an important weapon in the fight against breast cancer. Now I will talk about specific exercises for breast cancer patients.
Have you ever restored an old piece... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct72008
Yoga For the Body and Mind
With all the hype about yoga, there has to be a lot more to it than sitting cross-legged and contorting your body in weird poses. And there is much more. With over 800 styles of yoga to choose from,... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct72008
Don't Take Breast Cancer Lying Down (Part 1 of 2)
How Exercise Blocks the Disease
Exercise is a primary means of preventing breast cancer and improving recovery from breast cancer. Exercise has long been regarded as a means of preventing breast... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct72008
Living Well With Heart Failure
Have you ever had your car break down on the highway? If you had previous problems such as stalling or warning indicators on the dashboard, you may berate yourself for ignoring these warning signals.... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Oct52008
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When Exercise Makes You Feel Worse
The television advertisement shows a young woman running hard and sweating profusely, smiling but appearing rejuvenated. You might go out and try this yourself. Rather than feeling great, you may... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Aug122008
Shortcuts to Fitness: Do They Work?
Spending 60 minutes every day devoted to exercise strains more than just the muscles. Most people already feel that 24 hours is never enough to get everything done. Finding that kind of time is the... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Aug102008
Everybody Into the Pool!
Are you tired of the scorching sun? Hot, humid conditions can take their toll on your fitness program. Why not add a little splash to your daily routine? A water exercise program can cool down the... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Aug52008
Overtraining: When Pushing Hard Is Harmful
With so much emphasis placed on increasing physical activity, we hear very little about overtraining. For competitive athletes and some recreational athletes, however, overtraining can be a serious... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Aug32008
Detecting Heart Problems in Athletes
The dramatic heart-related deaths of young basketball stars such as Boston Celtic Reggie Lewis naturally grab headlines. But the reality is that sudden death in athletes is actually quite rare.... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May282008
Reaching the Limits of Exercise
When your mind and body tell you, "I can't take another step or complete another rep," do you listen to your body or push beyond it, thinking, no pain, no gain? There is no right answer, but learning... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Treating Depression With Exercise
Regular exercise enhances emotional well-being. Medical studies have shown that people who engage in a steady program of physical activity report a more cheerful mood, higher self-esteem, improved... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Preventing Shoulder Injuries
Have you ever wondered how baseball pitchers can have such different throwing motions and create so many variations of a pitch? It's the shoulder, an amazing joint that can make the arm throw... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Taking the Sneeze and Wheeze Out of Exercise
Pollen, air pollutants, respiratory infections, even cold air can make exercising difficult for people with asthma and allergies. But don't let them stop you. Exercise is excellent medicine even if... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Selecting a Fitness Center
Whether your workouts have become stale or you are trying to find the motivation to begin a fitness program, it might be time to get to the gym. A commitment to a fitness center might be just the... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Built for Motion: Take Charge of Your Body!
Winter can be an especially challenging time to start or maintain a fitness program, but our bodies are built for motion. Regular physical activity helps the body achieve peak performance. Everyone... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
Exercise and Your Mental Performance
We hear so much about the physical benefits of regular exercise. What effects do exercise and staying fit have on our cognitive function — the mental activities by which we acquire and process... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May272008
How Do You Know If You're Fit?
We all know that keeping physically active and exercising regularly are good for your health. Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Decreases... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May72008
Strength, Balance Key to Preventing Falls in Elderly
More than 30% of older adults fall every year, often incurring substantial personal and financial costs. ... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May62008
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Does foot pain interfere with your ability to exercise? Take the right steps to protect your feet from pulled muscles, stress fractures and other foot woes. Don't let improperly fitting shoes,... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
May62008
Rescue Your Knees
How often do you hear people say "I would love to exercise but my knees just won't let me"? Indeed, knee problems occur commonly, whether you work out two hours per day or get your only exercise... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Apr132008
Osteoporosis Exercises
Did you realize that our bones are made up of more than just calcium and protein? Bone contains active cells that continuously remove old bone and replace it with new bone in a process called... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
Apr12008
Menopause Makeover
Do you suffer from hot flashes and violent mood swings? Do you have difficulty getting a good night's rest? You may be experiencing perimenopause bedlam. Some women have only mild symptoms while... read more
Category: Focus on Fitness
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