Exercise & Fitness Archive

Many yard and gardening tasks—including raking and mowing —require enough effort to count as moderate-intensity exercise. Chores like digging and bagging leaves also help strengthen muscles. A 2023 study found that gardening helps increase physical activity levels, encourages greater fiber intake, and lowers stress and anxiety—all of which reduce the risk of heart disease.

In a 2024 randomized controlled trial, older adults (average age 71) who took part in an intensive weight training program (three times per week for one year) had better leg strength four years later than people who had taken part in more moderate strength training.

A recent study found that engaging in high-intensity interval training may be better for brain health than other less vigorous routines.

As children go through another school year under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are asking what they can do to keep their children healthy. While no magic solutions can ward off every illness, parents can take steps to help children — and everyone in their household — protect their health by keeping their immune systems robust.

If it's hard to fit balance training into a busy schedule, it might be easier to just do a one-minute balance exercise at different points in the day. Those points might occur during TV watching, cooking, or toothbrushing. Ideas for simple balance exercises include standing on one leg, heel raises, or sit-to-stands—going from a sitting to a standing position, arms crossed, then returning to a sitting position and repeating the process. It's best to stand near a counter or chair for support.

Most of us don't think twice about standing up, but for people affected by postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), standing can provoke lightheadedness and a racing heartbeat. While some people with POTS will require medications, most will improve with some specific dietary and behavioral changes.

A gentle form of soccer called walking soccer is packed with health benefits. It's a great way to socialize, exercise, and keep knee cartilage healthy. Playing the game also helps reinforce a person's ability to maintain balance and the ability to produce physical power, such as the force needed to get out of a chair and stand up. However, the game does pose some physical risks, such as ankle sprains, flare-ups of knee arthritis, and falls that result in wrist, arm, or elbow fractures.

The most common causes of hand pain include osteoarthritis, nerve conditions, and tendinitis. To help manage the pain and avoid surgery, doctors recommend splinting, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatories, heat and cold applications, and hand exer