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 — […]
A New Way to Help Our Bones with Calcium?
Despite the broad benefits of exercise to bone health, athletes from some sports fare better than others. Athletic training and performance can also be completely derailed by bone stress injuries, which have multifactorial contributors of which bone health is key. Energy availability, bone-loading exercise and vitamin D are known to influence bone health, but even […]
Pedaling toward Activity-Supportive Workplace Environments
Approximately 80% of jobs in the United States are predominantly sedentary. Sedentary work time is also increasing worldwide. National and global policy guidelines recommend breaking up sedentary work time to improve population health and reduce premature mortality. However, policies and job demands requiring workers to remain at their desks, along with limited funds and space for exercise equipment, can […]
What Is a Normal Rating of Perceived Exertion During Maximal Exercise Testing?
There is an abundance of evidence demonstrating that high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with decreased risk for early mortality, chronic disease and some infectious diseases, as well as lower health care costs. The evidence is so strong that the American Heart Association suggested CRF be considered a clinical vital sign that is regularly measured […]
New Insight into Vitamin D and Physical Performance
Vitamin D is widely known to play a role in musculoskeletal and immune health, and a deficiency is associated with a wide spectrum of disease states and impaired physical performance. Vitamin D is mainly synthesized by skin exposure to sunlight ultraviolet B radiation and only a small amount (~20%) of vitamin D is available from […]
Approaches to Promote Healthy Fat Mass Development May Differ for Boys and Girls During Adolescence
Body fat is essential for health; fat tissue not only stores energy but is an endocrine organ that synthesizes and secretes hormones (including estrogen and testosterone) important for healthy growth and maturation. Excess fat mass during childhood and adolescence tends to track into adulthood and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Obesity prevention has become […]