By Neil Wagner One reason why winters are so tough on arthritis is that people get less exercise. A lot less. A study of arthritis sufferers in Chicago, a place that knows something about winter, found that they were a third less active in November than they were in June. Essentially, they were spending three more
read more »Back Injuries Common in Young Athletes
By Neil Wagner Lower back injuries don’t just happen to the overweight and middle-aged. They’re the third most common type of injury suffered by young athletes, more common than even concussions, according to a new study. And over a third of them are serious enough to cause long-term problems. Overtraining appears to be the single biggest
read more »Omega-3 Fatty Acids Appear to Ease Osteoarthritis Symptoms
By Beth Fontenot, MS, RD, LDN The type of fat you eat not only can affect your weight and heart, it may also determine the health of your joints. Eating too much unhealthy fat could worsen osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints that occurs when the top layer of cartilage wears away allowing the
read more »Tracker Craze: Fitness Trackers – The Future Is Now!
Getting into shape and being healthy is top-of-mind for many people these days. Part of a good plan includes knowing what your body is doing as you employ a fitness and/or weight loss program. One of the latest crazes for doing just this and staying on track is with fitness trackers or activity trackers. There
read more »Barefoot Running Shoes: Go Slowly
By Neil Wagner People began running way before there were any shoes, but that was a long time ago. It can be very difficult for a human foot that’s worn shoes all its life to adjust to running without them. That’s why runners interested in switching to minimalist running shoes should make the transition very slowly
read more »Prevent knee pain and injury with some simple steps
Knee injuries are extremely common. With a variety of causes, including sudden injury from sports or a fall, or conditions that develop over time (like arthritis), pain in your knees means exercise, walking or just getting out of a chair can be a challenge. While not every cause of knee pain can be prevented, there
read more »Flip-flop fear: how these flimsy shoes can impact your step
Sure, they’re cute and comfy, but the dollar flip-flops you live in could be doing more harm than good. Take a close look at this summer (and sometimes year-round) footwear and you’ll see something very clearly: your shoes aren’t made of much and they could be injuring your body. The soles are often made from
read more »Easy strides: enjoy the convenience and health benefits of walking
Lace up your shoes and get ready to hit the street for one of the easiest, simplest forms of exercise you can do—walking. Walking is affordable, and doesn’t require any special tools to help you get healthy and enjoy lasting benefits that go far beyond looking good. As with any exercise program, you’ll be more
read more »Sports Tips: Preventing Tennis Injuries
It’s that time of year again when people start hitting the court in droves. It’s also a time when doctors report more tennis-related injuries. Tennis injuries can occur from poor conditioning, improper equipment, a poor swing or overuse. By staying fit, using the correct racket, and “listening” to your body, you can enjoy tennis for
read more »Summer Sports Tips: Preventing Golf Injuries
Golf is one of the most popular recreational sports in the US today. It is also a leading cause of injury. Most “weekend” golfers develop injury problems from poor swing mechanics and or poor conditioning. Professional golfers and those who play very often can run into problems from overuse. Here are some helpful tips designed
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