Exercise and Fitness Archive

People who bike to work or cycle for pleasure may have a slightly lower risk of heart disease compared with noncyclists. 

In a large United Kingdom study, regularly practicing racket sports, swimming, or aerobics significantly reduced the risk of dying over eight to 13 years. 

If you are ready to make a commitment to improve your fitness and health, joining a gym gives you a wide variety of options for equipment and types of workouts. This can help you sidestep workout boredom and help you meet recommended physical activity guidelines. But before you sign up, take time to ask questions to be sure the gym meets your needs and budget.

It appears that adopting a regular routine of moderate physical activity, such as walking, helps older adults remain mobile longer and may also help them to recover faster from physical disabilities. 

Stopping exercise for 10 days can reduce brain blood flow by 20% to 30% in eight brain regions, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for learning and memory and is one of the first brain regions to shrink in Alzheimer’s disease.

Today's high-tech stationary bikes are ridden at top speed, with instructors telling cyclists when to coast, sprint, and climb.

 Image: JackF/Thinkstock

One of the hottest trends among the workout set springs from your old stationary bicycle. The new use for old wheels is a supercharged cardio workout called indoor cycling or Spinning (its trademarked name). First popular in the 1990s, the activity is still going strong and is now popular among older adults. "Many classes are specifically for seniors, with instructors who are familiar with modifications for your age group," says Jacob Girlinghouse, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The workout and benefits

Making it work

A large international study of people around the world suggests that extreme physical exertion or emotional upset may be triggers for a heart attack. 

What to consider when choosing a workout venue.

 Image: vencavolrab/Thinkstock

If getting in shape tops your list of New Year's resolutions, you're in good company. During the first few months of the year, sign-ups at fitness centers and health clubs tend to trend upward. While these memberships can be costly, you may be able to find more affordable options or take advantage of discounts. But no matter what you pay, shelling out a monthly fee may encourage you to use the gym regularly to get your money's worth. If you do, your heart will likely reap the rewards: regular exercise is one of the best ways to boost cardiovascular health.

"The main advantage to joining a gym is to have access to a wide variety of exercise equipment," says Alex Petruska, a senior physical therapist at the Sports Medicine Center of Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. That includes machines for a cardiovascular workout, such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, and stair steppers, as well as a variety of weight machines.

Wristwatch-style fitness monitors use a sensor that detects blood flow through the skin to estimate a person’s heart rate. Some brands are more accurate that others, but none are as accurate as chest-strap monitors. 

Anger or emotional upset may double the risk of having a heart attack. Heavy physical exertion appears to have the same effect. And people who do intense exercise while they’re upset or mad may face three times the risk of heart attack.