Exercise & Fitness Archive

Exercise-related injuries are often preventable using a combination of strategies, such as warming up before an exercise session, increasing workout intensity gradually, opting for low-impact options, and performing exercises using the proper body position. Changing up the choice of activities can help people avoid repetitive strain injuries associated with focusing on a single sport, such as golfer's elbow, tennis elbow, and iliotibial band syndrome, which causes pain along the outside of the knee.

The pandemic has increased the number of video workouts available to homebound exercisers. Many fitness centers routinely offer livestreamed classes, and exercise videos are readily accessible online. While video workouts are still a great option for those who are not ready to return to the gym or who want an alternative and fun way to exercise, people should follow some basic guidelines to ensure they get the most from their online experience.

Experts suggest people replace their walking shoes every 300 to 500 miles. For the best selection and advice, people should consider shopping at a specialty running store that also sells walking shoes. Other tips for choosing comfortable, supportive shoes include looking for low-heeled shoes that bend easily at the ball of the foot and have wiggle room at the toes.

A 2022 study examined the brains of older adults after they died, and found that those who had stayed the most active late in life had higher amounts of synaptic proteins. These proteins improve the connections between the brain's nerve cells.

It's difficult to get motivated to be active outside during cold-weather months, but it's important to your health and can help you meet any fitness goals you're trying to reach. There are ways to get outside and moving in cold temperatures.

Exercising is crucial for good health, even if exercising doesn't help a person get down to a healthy weight. Exercising reduces the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and premature death. If someone is overweight and unfit, the risk of premature death is double the risk of someone who is the same age and sex, and is overweight but fit.

U.S. adults who report being physically active say their most frequent forms of exercise are walking, gardening, and weight lifting, according to a study published online Oct. 8, 2021, by the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

A study published online Oct. 4, 2021, by the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that about 46,000 U.S. cancer cases per year can be attributed to getting less than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Exercise may help to reverse some types of heart damage. Not only can workouts prevent heart problems, but it may help to improve conditions that may raise risk for cardiovascular events. A 2021 study, for example, showed that a yearlong exercise program helped improve heart health in people who were at increased risk for heart failure.

Accomplished senior athletes face the same obstacles as most other older adults—seeking motivation, overcoming injuries and setbacks, and finding the best exercise routines to meet their goals. Here, seasoned competitors from the National Senior Games—the world's largest multi-sport event for seniors—share their tips and strategies for how they stay active, healthy, and driven.