Training the Nervous System after Stroke
Neurotraumatic injury such as stroke is not typically symmetrical. So, it is no surprise that such damage results in a more affected side, which results in more dramatic muscle weakness and spasticity. However, evidence suggests that some human movements have conserved neural linkages even post-stroke. Thus, training the more affected side made indeed enable the […]
Physical Activity and Function in Older Age: It’s Never too Late to Start!
Despite the known benefits of physical activity to health and physical function in aging, the proportion of older adults meeting recommended physical activity guidelines remains low (27%). Since the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were published, considerable evidence has emerged regarding the relative benefits of various modes or combinations of physical activity, such as progressive resistance training, multicomponent […]
High-Intensity Interval Training: For Fitness, for Health or Both?
That which was old is new again. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been a common component of exercise regimens designed to improve fitness and performance for many generations. In recent years, research interest has surged. A simple search of PubMed for the term “high-intensity interval training” reveals a more than 20-fold increase in the number […]
What’s New in the ACSM Pronouncement on Exercise and Hypertension?
Hypertension is a Pervasive Public Health Problem The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/ American Heart Association (AHA) Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines recently redefined hypertension to a lower blood pressure (BP) threshold of 130 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP) or 80 mmHg for diastolic BP (DBP) (1) versus the Joint National Commission 7 (JNC […]
Body Weight and Waist Circumference Trending Upward in Americans
Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a National Health Statistics Report updating the trends in body weight, height, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) in the U.S. population. This update uses data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and primarily focuses on trends from 1999-2000 through 2015-2016. If you […]
Predatory Publishing: How to Avoid Exploitative Journals
Publishing original research is critical to academic and professional achievement. When selecting the journal to which you will submit your work, it is important to consider the options very carefully. While there are many academic journals, 30,000 or more in fact based on some reports, it is estimated that around 10,000 journals employ “predatory publishing” […]
High Altitude and Cold Weather Sport: Are There Nutritional Concerns?
Cold weather and high-altitude sports have certainly been in the news recently. Have you ever wondered if these environments influence nutritional requirements and, therefore, may also have an impact on athletic performance? There is an increasing body of research suggesting that there are many nutritional issues related to cold and high-altitude environments that, if not […]
The Science of Figure Skating: Jumps
One of the most anticipated events of the Winter Games is men’s and ladies figure skating, where we will be treated to grace and athleticism. Skaters glide across the ice, seemingly effortlessly, maintaining their balance in dizzying spins, quadruple jumps, and intricate footwork sequences. Landing a jump known as a quadruple flip on opening day, […]
