How to Get Started with a New Winter Sport
During the Olympics, we gather around our screens and watch in suspense as our favorite athletes battle it out for a spot on the podium. We say things like “that McTwist was insane!” or “I wish I could try that!” Some of us leap off the couch eager to practice. But for others, trying one […]
The Role of Acute Physical and Mental Activity in Concussion Recovery
The debate over the best methods for concussion recovery has been a key challenge to sports medicine providers over the last several decades. While rapid return to play, particularly when still symptomatic, is obviously inappropriate, the early recommendations suggested complete rest. This is sometimes referred to as “cocoon therapy,” where the patient is instructed to […]
Exercising in the Cold: Chilled, not Shaking!
Ok, so, we’ve taken the liberty to slightly “stir” the famous James Bond line. Hopefully you get our point that chilly is ok, but bone-shaking cold isn’t. Particularly when referring to exercising safely in the cold. As we continue through winter, many of your clients will be physically active or working outdoors. While we want […]
3 Essentials for Building a Home Gym
If you’re one of the many people whose exercise routine was interrupted by the pandemic, setting up a home gym could be the right choice in 2022. According to the 2022 ACSM Health & Fitness Journal Fitness Trends Survey, the number two fitness trend is home exercise gyms. Since online programs routinely offer 24/7 availability, including […]
From Bench-top to Bedside: Is Exercise Truly a Cancer Medicine?
In 2009 our team published the Australian guidelines on exercise and physical activity for people with cancer emphasizing the imperative that clinicians should reject the rest strategy. Rather, patients should be physically active most days using a combination of aerobic and resistance training aiming to accumulate 75 to 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise […]
One Number That Knows if You Are Active Enough
Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) is a physical activity monitoring approach invented by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology around five years ago. It uses heart rate data (e.g., from a wrist-worn monitor) to provide the user with a single metric. This number reflects the amount and intensity of aerobic exercise a person […]
How Should Adult Handgrip Strength be Normalized for Body Size?
Muscle strength refers to the ability of the muscles to produce maximal force. One assessment method is to measure handgrip strength, which involves the maximal isometric force of the finger flexors using a handheld device. Handgrip strength is a convenient, reliable, valid and safe measure that is an important indicator of general health and sports […]
Exercise and Glucose Intolerance during Pregnancy: Exercise Dose and Timing Matter
Glucose metabolism during pregnancy plays a pivotal role in maternal and fetal health. Impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, is at the center of the “diabetes begetting diabetes” intergeneration vicious circle. It has been related to not only adverse obstetrics and perinatal outcomes, but also substantially increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders in […]
Diet Manipulation for Healthy Living: Importance of 16-Hour Fasting
Social media commonly offers a variety of healthy living solutions, presenting a perfect mix of speculation, firm belief, a bit of scientific evidence and personal experience. Nutrition tends to be a popular topic on social media. Often, a seemingly convincing case is made that encourages people that a dietary approach is miraculous. One such topic […]
The Importance of Sleep for Health
When we think about the most important actions that we can take to protect our health, we usually consider behaviors such as partaking in regular physical activity or eating a nutritious diet. Yet, an often-overlooked aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is sleep. Sleep has serious implications for your physical and mental health. Adequate sleep […]