First, You: Strategies for Self-Care in Health Care
“Painful feelings are, by their very nature, temporary. They will weaken over time as long as we don’t prolong or amplify them through resistance or avoidance. The only way to eventually free ourselves from debilitating pain, therefore, is to be with it as it is. The only way out is through.” ― Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: The […]
We All Need a Good PAL on Most Days
Higher levels of physical activity are unquestionably important for maintaining good physical and cognitive health. Surprisingly, however, we know relatively little about the amount of energy United States (U.S.) adults expend in physically active behaviors each day. One way to estimate the amount of energy expended in physical activity is to calculate one’s physical activity […]
Exercise Improves Liver Health
The liver plays a crucial role in numerous metabolic processes necessary to leading a healthy life, including those essential to metabolism, such as storing energy and regulating blood sugar. Exercise has been shown to improve liver health by reducing fat in the liver, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system and improving mental […]
Women in the Workforce: How Can We Mitigate Occupational Risk in Physically Demanding Professions?
Women are increasingly filling work roles that were previously dominated by men. While a larger proportion of military service members, law enforcement officers, health care workers and aviators continue to be men, women in these trades experience occupational hazards differently than their male counterparts. As a profession, we have already seen similar findings within athletics. […]
Good Health is as Easy as a Walk in the Park!
I just found out that Thursday the 30th of March is “Take a Walk in the Park Day” here in the U.S., and although it sort of sounds like a “Go jump in a lake day,” I have to admit — on reflection — that the founders of this holiday are on to something good. […]
We Can and Should Do Better When Estimating Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important component of physical fitness and represents the ability of the heart and the lungs to deliver oxygen to the working muscles during maximal-effort exercise. Over the past decades, CRF has been shown to be inversely related to many common and prevalent chronic diseases, including but not limited to cardiovascular […]
Harnessing the Expertise of Exercise Professionals to Move the Needle on Blood Pressure Controlancer Treatment
High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is the most common costly but modifiable major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, affecting nearly half (47%) of the U.S. adult population. A recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) reinforces physical activity as a critical component of first-line treatment for individuals with mild- to […]
Progressive Resistance Training: A Way to Combat Persistent Pain after Breast Cancer Treatment
Persistent pain is among the most common adverse effects to breast cancer and its treatments. It affects 25-60% of patients and can linger for several years as a source of considerable physical and psychological distress. Among other things, pain after breast cancer is a primary source of upper limb dysfunction and has been associated with […]
Working with Older Adults? Don’t Skimp on Strength Training
“Garrett, I’m too old to strength train.” If I had a penny for every time I heard this statement, I’d be a rich man! Really, I would. More recently: “Dr. Kellar, aren’t some people too old to do strength training?” What? No! A person is never — yes, never — too old to strength train! As one […]
Running for Two: Pregnancy, Training and Return to Performance for Elite to World-Class Runners
There are a variety of resources that exist to advise individuals on best practices for exercising throughout pregnancy. International evidence-based health guidelines typically recommend at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity physical activity in those without contraindications during pregnancy. While these recommendations guide physical activity during pregnancy in the general population, they are not developed — […]