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Exercise and Fitness Archive

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Modify your push-ups to meet your fitness level

The classic push-up is still celebrated for its no-equipment-needed simplicity. Using just your body weight, each rep strengthens the arms, shoulders, and chest, as well as the core, hips, and legs. Push-ups can be adjusted for almost any fitness level.

Trying to lose weight? Be careful not to lose muscle

People can prevent excessive muscle loss while losing weight by doing resistance training to build muscle, consuming enough protein, and slowing their weight-loss pace.

A measure of balance

People can evaluate their balance and fall risk at home by taking the four-stage balance test. More advanced tests like single-leg standing, heel-to-toe-walking, and timed up and go can also aid in assessing balance and coordination.

Two dumbbells, three exercises, and 10 minutes

With 10 minutes and a pair of dumbbells, people can do a full-body workout using a variation of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) called low-volume HIIT. With low-volume HIIT, people perform only a few sets of two to four exercises.

A small amount of weekly exercise may reduce depression symptoms in people with chronic illness

A 2025 analysis found that people with chronic illnesses, who are highly susceptible to depression and whose conditions often make activity difficult, may need a relatively small amount of weekly exercise to ease depression.

The power of wall balls

Wall ball exercises help increase strength, power, and endurance, and improve daily movements. They involve squatting while holding a large ball then rising explosively, throwing the ball high against a wall, catching it, and dropping back into a squat again.

Regular physical activity at midlife and beyond may help lower dementia risk

A 2025 study found that people with high amounts of daily activity at middle age and beyond reduced their risk of developing dementia compared with individuals who had the least daily activity during these life stages.

Foam rollers: Inexpensive tools with premium payoffs

A foam roller is a cylinder made of foam. When the tool is used properly, it can help reduce tension in muscles and other soft tissue. Foam rolling also helps increase flexibility, especially when used as a warm-up before exercise.

Walking for wellness: Quick jaunts versus long treks

Physical activity improves physical and mental health, and walking is the simplest way to stay active. Walking for more than 10 minutes at a time may offer extra benefits, but all movement counts. For people over 60, 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day are optimal, regardless of walking speed.

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