Exercise and Fitness Archive

A 2025 study found that many people who use a fitness app to track their daily steps were able to maintain or increase their numbers over two years, suggesting the devices may have a long-term effect on motivation.

Diastasis recti occurs when the rectus abdominis muscle - the "six-pack" - separates and leads to a midline abdominal bulge. This might happen because of pregnancy, aging, genetics, excessive abdominal pressure, or abdominal surgery. The bulge becomes more noticeable when lifting heavy objects, getting out of bed, or even performing everyday tasks. The condition usually doesn't resolve on its own. Working with a physical therapist can help decrease the muscle separation.

Aging often leads to a loss of shoulder strength and motion, especially the ability to reach up and lift objects overhead. The best way to protect the shoulders is to stretch them daily and strengthen them every other day. Exercises can be done consecutively in a single workout or individually throughout the day. It's best to do a warm-up before engaging in any shoulder exercises. A warm-up can be as simple as marching in place for a few minutes while gently moving the arms up and down.

Research suggests that exercise is beneficial in managing insomnia, but current guidelines don't specify which types may be most effective. A 2025 study found that yoga, tai chi, walking, and running were associated with reduced symptoms of insomnia.

The bear crawl is a body-weight exercise that consists of moving along the ground using only the hands and feet. The move is a fun way to strengthen core muscles and improve mobility, coordination, and balance.

Approximately 50% of people who begin an exercise program quit within the first six months, according to some estimates. Declining motivation is usually the main reason, but there are ways that people can approach their fitness to help them stay focused and committed. These include recognizing the value of staying healthy, enlisting a workout buddy, adopting specific exercises to reach individual goals, matching workouts to their personality, and finding inspirational figures.

Power is the ability to generate a large amount of force in a short amount of time. It can help people to properly and safely execute many everyday movements, such as climbing stairs, lifting and carrying heavy objects, twisting, pulling, and throwing. Power also improves movement efficiency and reaction time, helping to prevent injuries from falls. Increasing overall muscle mass with regular strength training and doing plyometric exercises and explosive moves using a medicine ball can help build power.

A three-step routine of leg swings, hip circles, and foot rolls can help prepare muscles and joints for running and walking and reduce the risk of soreness.

A 2025 study found that exercising earlier in the day (before 1 p.m.) offered more benefits like better lung and heart health and walking efficiency compared with exercising later in the day (after 4 p.m.).

Shoulder mobility is crucial for safely reaching overhead, carrying heavy items, and engaging in sports such as golf, tennis, and pickleball. Halos are one of the best exercises for improving shoulder mobility, flexibility, and strength. They can be performed with a kettlebell, a dumbbell, or even a heavy book. Halos are done by holding the weight with both hands and rotating it around the head in a circular motion, first in one direction and then the other, as if drawing a halo over the head.