Fitness

3:05 PM EDT, May 16, 2013

Can sleep at altitude prevent sudden hiker deaths?

Men who die of a sudden cardiac event are less likely to do so on the first day of mountain activities if they sleep at higher elevations the night before, according to a new study.

May 11, 2013

TRY THIS

The right medicine for building muscles and saving time

Here's a new way to use that medicine ball and challenge your muscles all the way from calves to shoulders.

7:48 AM EDT, May 16, 2013

MyFitnessPal and me: Diary of an obsessive electronic relationship

Right from the start, I knew we would have problems in our relationship. We were too much alike, he and I. Type A. Achievers. The kind who love lists and checking things off. The kind who love control.

3:50 PM EDT, May 13, 2013

New fitness centers cater to aging baby boomers

Baby boomers, the generation that vowed to stay forever young, are getting older, designing senior-friendly gyms and becoming their own personal trainers.

8:20 AM EDT, May 10, 2013

Your brain on baseball: How hitters see a 95-mph fastball

Swing, batter, batter! In less time than it takes to say that phrase, Major League Baseball sluggers have their bat across the plate, and the best of them are golfing the shot over the outfield wall.

3:08 AM EDT, May 9, 2013

What to consume before, during and after exercise

Have you ever been hungry before you workout or even hungrier after you're done? BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois gives tips on what to eat before, during and after workouts.

8:08 PM EDT, May 8, 2013

The good, the bad and the potentially dangerous of kettlebells

"There is a huge difference in swinging a kettlebell and performing a kettlebell swing," says Brett Jones, a kettlebell master and one my most important mentors on this topic. Brett said it all: There is a huge difference between what you mostly see in gyms (just swinging a kettlebell around) and performing an actual kettlebell swing. If you do these exercises right they are wonderful — safe, effective, convenient and efficient.

6:46 PM EDT, May 7, 2013

Aerobic exercise as breast cancer prevention: Evidence mounts

There's a fair amount of circumstantial evidence that regular exercise reduces a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. But contradictory findings, and lingering questions as to how physical activity would work to ward off breast cancer, have clouded the picture, apparently leaving some women on the couch, waiting for that scientific fog to lift.

4:54 PM EDT, May 3, 2013

Supplement builds strength in fibromyalgia trial

Creatine, a supplement favored by bodybuilders, modestly boosted muscle strength in patients with fibromyalgia, Brazilian researchers report.

12:50 PM EDT, May 2, 2013

Consider lighter baseballs for young pitchers: study

Practicing with lighter baseballs may help teen pitchers improve their throwing speeds while also reducing the risk of overuse injuries, a small study from Taiwan suggests.

7:04 PM EDT, May 1, 2013

Jennifer Aniston has 'cheat days,' says she was 'a lot rounder'

Jennifer Aniston has "cheat days." You know, the day you don't think about diet or exercise and just eat what ever you want.

8:18 PM EDT, May 1, 2013

Stem cells may aid in sports injuries

Until recently, I didn't know that I could use stem cells to help heal my bum shoulder. Perhaps that's because I don't use said shoulder for hurling baseballs or footballs at speeds approaching the sound barrier for obscene amounts of money.

12:56 AM EDT, April 29, 2013

Top 10 U.S. cities for yoga

If you're a fan of yoga, you might want to check these cities out, which Forbes says are the top 10.

April 27, 2013

Pole art popularity outstrips its origins

What was once a dance that was synonymous with strip clubs, pole art has become an underground community that is finding its way into mainstream dance, fitness, art and culture.

5:03 PM EDT, April 24, 2013

Gut bugs are implicated in heart attacks and stroke

Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis — not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. Suspects? The human gut.

7:59 PM EDT, April 24, 2013

When weight is disabling

Lisa Harrison weighed 527 pounds on the day she was fired from her job at a Louisiana drug addiction treatment center. The 5-foot-2-inch Harrison, who believed her employer considered her "disabled" due to her weight, filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

8:02 PM EDT, April 24, 2013

Tailor your treadmill workouts to prevent boredom

Sometimes treadmills may be the only practical option for those who are hampered by weather or trying to squeeze in a workout.

7:28 PM EDT, April 23, 2013

I'll have to exercise for HOW LONG to work that off?

Diners confronted with the sweat equivalents of food offerings on a restaurant menu get a good, hard look at what they are in for -- and order a lower-calorie meal -- than do those who see actual calorie counts or no nutritional data at all, new research says.

April 18, 2013

The Rock talks diet, fitness, new movie

South Florida action star Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, plays a bodybuilding criminal in the motion picture, "Pain and Gain." The meathead fest, featuring a trio of steroid-using personal trainers in Miami during the 1990s, is a truthy tragicomedy that's often disturbing and sometimes hilarious. (Co-star Mark Wahlberg seems to be in "roid rage" throughout the movie.)

April 20, 2013

Set a goal but didn't follow through? Tips to resetting habits

OK, you've had nearly a third of the year. Lost that weight? Smoking a thing of the past? Nicer to your husband? If you are like many people, such resolutions have disappeared as completely as the bubbles in your Champagne toast. But you can start again.

3:18 PM EDT, April 18, 2013

Exercise, diet may keep sleep apnea from worsening

Losing weight through exercise and healthier eating may have long-term benefits for people with mild sleep apnea, a new study suggests.

April 12, 2013

Boxing helps Parkinson's patients fight back

Physical therapist Craig Marks mixes boxing techniques into his training sessions for people with Parkinson's disease. It's a concept that has been catching on in recent years, with former boxers and gym trainers throughout the country.

8:18 PM EDT, April 17, 2013

Partner exercise routines can be more fun than going it alone

When the alarm goes off at 6 a.m., getting out of bed and heading to the gym may seem like an impossible task. Good news! Recent studies have found that exercising with a partner boosts motivation — and it's more fun than doing it alone.

8:36 PM EDT, April 17, 2013

Lady, you can do pullups

Who says women can't do pullups? Certainly not Neghar Fonooni, a Baltimore personal trainer who, in the span of a year, went from doing assisted pullups to hoisting her own body weight plus a 36-pound kettlebell over the bar.

5:15 PM EDT, April 16, 2013

Heart attack, stroke not enough to prompt some people to shape up

We all know that smoking is bad for us, that exercise is good for us, and that we should eat vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious foods. All of this advice is even more true for people who have had serious health scares due to heart disease or stroke.

5:52 PM EDT, April 16, 2013

Obesity experts and doctors team up to offer free weight-loss tools for patients and providers

Talking about excess weight can be awkward. But talking about it with your health-care provider can also be lifesaving.

5:14 PM EDT, April 12, 2013

Pool exercise may build strength, reduce falls

Women who did a high-intensity aquatic workout for six months increased their strength and suffered fewer falls, in a new study that suggests bone- and muscle-building resistance can be achieved with the right kinds of water exercises.

April 13, 2013

Yoga might help boost mental health

As you stretch into warrior pose and inhale and exhale, you're not just stretching those hamstrings and lungs; you're also doing good for your brain with a practice that can stave off or relieve problems such as stress, depression and anxiety.

1:38 PM EDT, April 11, 2013

Exercise as good as massage for sore muscles

The aches and pains people suffer after working out more than usual can be relieved just as well by exercise as by massage, according to a new study.

7:32 PM EDT, April 10, 2013

Learn the ropes

Next to the popular treadmills and the busy elliptical machines, just steps away from the weight machines at most gyms, there's usually a large pile of ropes.

9:15 AM EDT, April 8, 2013

Fitness after 65 is no one-size-fits-all endeavor

America's ageing population is posing special challenges, fitness experts say, because it is difficult to design effective workout routines for people with such a wide range of abilities.

April 10, 2013

Workers hope to win by losing

Being labeled the biggest loser in junior high is generally not a good thing.

5:07 PM EDT, April 5, 2013

Twelve school football players die each year: study

Each year in the U.S. an average of a dozen high school and college football players die during practices and games, according to a new study that finds heart conditions, heat and other non-traumatic causes of death are twice as common as injury-related ones.

April 6, 2013

5 QUESTIONS

Jackie Joyner-Kersee on family health

Former track and field Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee is no stranger to the benefits of daily workouts and a healthful lifestyle. As a six-time medal winner, she lived her life always in her own best shape.

4:28 PM EDT, April 4, 2013

Testosterone doesn't boost functioning in older men

Older men who use testosterone gel may see small improvements in their muscle-to-fat ratio but are unlikely to glean any benefits in flexibility, endurance and general ability to get around, new research suggests.

7:45 PM EDT, April 3, 2013

Re-balancing your workout to lessen likelihood of injury

In her 20s, Lori Popkewitz Alper loved the intense cardio workouts at her Boston gym. But, as her life and her body changed, so did her fitness repertoire.

1:14 PM EDT, April 1, 2013

Looking for a fitness buddy? Get a dog

Zeus the pit bull helps his owner slog through interval training and military crawls, Goldie and her master enjoy Tai Chi together and Izzie the three-legged shih tzu can't hike up the mountain but she acts as a hand weight for her owner's bicep curl.

12:51 PM EDT, March 28, 2013

Upping vigorous exercise may improve fibromyalgia

For those who are able, exercising once or twice more weekly may alleviate some symptoms of a chronic pain condition without making joints feel worse, according to a new study.

2:15 PM EDT, March 28, 2013

Julie Deardorff: Five minutes with Madonna's personal trainer

As Madonna’s primary personal trainer, Nicole Winhoffer always has five backup plans ready – just in case her original idea doesn’t fly with the famously fit Madge.

3:37 PM EDT, March 27, 2013

Workplaces can be good weight-loss sites, researchers say

Weight-loss programs at work can help people shave pounds and keep them off, researchers said in a new report.

8:58 PM EDT, March 27, 2013

Handling with care

I didn't play football growing up. Never got to date a cheerleader. But, as a consolation prize, I have had an ambulatory adulthood.

10:50 AM EDT, March 21, 2013

Stairway to fitness: Actress runs up 47 flights

Elisabetta Fantone is a model and actress who shot to fame in 2006 on "Loft Story," a French-Canadian version of "Big Brother."

March 27, 2013

If you can't make it to the gym ...

Internist Sheree Lipkis, of Northbrook, installed a treadmill desk in her office so she can walk while she checks emails and lab results between patients.

March 23, 2013

5 Questions

Boxer Wladimir Klitschko on training, diet and sibling rivalry

They call him Dr. Steelhammer, because not only could he punch you into a parallel universe, he also has a doctorate in sports sciences. Of his 62 boxing bouts, Olympic and world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has lost only three. For the 59 who faced him and lost, all but eight were knocked out. I just got a sympathy headache.

2:08 PM EDT, April 17, 2013

Kid triathlons becoming more popular

When 11-year-old Benjamin Lausch competes in triathlons, his eye is on beating a boy from Pennsylvania named Daniel.

9:06 PM EDT, March 20, 2013

A Dailey dose

Since opening her first studio in San Francisco in 2000, Jill Dailey McIntosh has been spreading The Dailey Method across the country and beyond, combining ballet barre work, core conditioning, muscle strengthening, yoga and orthopedic exercise.

8:20 PM EDT, March 20, 2013

Through Feldenkrais, simple movements ease muscle pain

By the time people come to see Lisa Walker, they're usually desperate.

3:45 PM EST, March 8, 2013

Double-jointed teens may be prone to joint pain

Double-jointed teens are more likely than their less flexible peers to develop shoulder, knee or ankle pain, suggests a large, new study from the UK.

7:18 AM EDT, March 11, 2013

Let them eat cake later: Americans hosting 'fitness parties'

From spinning birthday celebrations to pole dancing bachelorette bashes, U.S. gyms are offering fitness parties as new way to mark life's milestones — with a few friends and a good sweat.

12:14 AM EST, March 4, 2013

Exercise, less sitting time, linked to better sleep

Insomniacs looking for a good night's sleep may want to hit the treadmill, take a walk or play a game of golf or tennis because a new report released on Monday shows exercise promotes good sleep and the more vigorous the workout the better.

5:31 AM EST, March 4, 2013

Fitness experts separate folklore from fact

Can crunches create six-pack abdominal muscles? Do weight-lifting women risk bulging biceps? Is stretching always a good idea?

March 6, 2013

Study to test benefits of dance for Latin seniors

A group of Latino seniors soon will be stepping out on the dance floor in the name of medical research.

5:05 AM EST, February 25, 2013

Hotels take fitness amenities to the great outdoors

From sightseeing city runs and nature hikes down country trails to surfing sessions, hotels are luring leisure and business clients outside their climate-controlled rooms for outdoor activities to keep fit while traveling for business or pleasure.

March 1, 2013

First lady Michelle Obama announces new fitness initiative in Chicago, where obesity is high

First lady Michelle Obama rolled out her latest health and fitness initiative in Chicago on Thursday, just as city heath officials released new data showing 1 in 4 of the city's public school students are obese.

7:19 PM EST, February 27, 2013

Wear a helmet: It's worth it

Two weeks later and the muscles in my neck are still sore.

9:00 AM EST, February 26, 2013

'Crunch time' poll: Parents don't recognize kids are overweight

Many American parents can't see that their kids are overweight, according to a poll released Monday.

4:45 PM EST, February 21, 2013

Male soccer players more prone to hamstring strains

Men are more likely to strain a hamstring playing college soccer than women, according to a new analysis of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury records.

5:30 PM EST, February 20, 2013

Are only children to blame for the obesity crisis?

A new study suggests an intriguing explanation for the rise in obesity rates — the growing number of only children.

February 16, 2013

Tips for ski season injury prevention

Nothing ruins a skiing or snowboarding weekend like having to hitchhike down the hill in a ski patroller's sled — or in an ambulance. Fortunately, the overall rate of skiing injuries has declined by 50% since the 1970s, according to the National Ski Areas Assn., a trade organization. (Snowboarding injuries are a different story: They've nearly doubled in the last decade — partly because the sport itself is relatively new.)

8:06 PM EST, February 13, 2013

Exercise: Choose your own potential

Long ago I had one of those "choose-your-own adventure" books based on a James Bond movie, and I made bad choices; the poor British spy kept getting consumed in a vat of molten lava, impaled on a bunch of spiky things or became an appetizer for saltwater crocodiles.

8:36 PM EST, February 13, 2013

Doctors often don't counsel the obese

Overweight and obese patients might not be the only ones who dread the number on the scale each time they visit the doctor's office.

11:10 AM EST, February 12, 2013

Home altitude tied to obesity risk

Americans who live where the air is thinnest are less likely to be obese than those in low-lying areas, according to a new study.

5:06 AM EST, February 11, 2013

Working out when to exercise in the cold and flu season

Sniffles, runny noses and flu-like symptoms can deter, delay and even derail many exercisers just when enthusiasm for that New Year's resolution is beginning to flag.

February 9, 2013

Roy Wallack: Gear: Home gyms don't have to take up a lot of room

The old home gym isn't what it used to be. It's more creative, often combining traditional fixed-path movements with self-balancing "functional" movements that force you to use more muscle groups to stabilize the load. Despite very different designs, the four models reviewed below share key attributes most people will love: compact, room-friendly footprints, a wide variety of exercises that can work you hard from head to toe, and retail and online sales prices of less than $2,600.

9:42 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Overdoing it on exercise

Most people who exercise find a way to work it into their lives. Robert Silvers of Marshfield, Mass., organizes his life around his exercise.

7:35 PM EST, February 6, 2013

Cruise lines taking workout offerings past the pool, into the sky

With buffets available nearly 24 hours a day, it's no surprise that the average cruise-goer gains a pound a day, according to a poll of 1,281 people by independent cruise travel agents. Of those polled, 6 percent said they gained up to 18 pounds during their two-week cruise.

1:43 PM EST, January 28, 2013

Suzy Cohen: Exercise improves memory, enhances mood

Dear Pharmacist: I'm going through a lot right now. This year, my New Years' resolution is to exercise more, hoping to take my mind off everything. My schedule only allows me to go to the gym twice per week. Will this help me feel better, in terms of anxiety or mood? — F.A., New York

6:00 PM EST, February 4, 2013

Sperm count low among couch potatoes, study finds

For those men who are looking to boost their sperm count, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have some simple advice: drop the TV remote control and get to the gym.

February 2, 2013

Fitness experts look at those core beliefs

Of all of the muscles in the body, the ones in the midsection get an outsized share of attention. They even have their own brand name: "the core." As in core workouts, core training and core strength.

3:41 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Yoga may aid people with irregular heart rhythm

Regular yoga classes could help people with a common heart rhythm problem manage their symptoms while also improving their state of mind, a new study suggests.

8:57 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Obesity in girls tied to higher MS risk: study

Obese children, adolescent girls in particular, are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) than normal-weight youth - with extreme obesity tied to a three- to four-fold higher risk of MS.

3:56 PM EST, January 25, 2013

Car commuters gain more weight

People driving to work every day are packing on more pounds than their colleagues on trains, buses and bikes, according to a new study from Australia.

January 26, 2013

Let the gym come to you with these fitness sites

How many times did you go to the gym last year? If the answer is somewhere in the low double digits or fewer, maybe you're better off getting your workouts from the Web.

1:08 PM EST, January 24, 2013

Gap widens between actual weight and people's imagined weight

Men and women, particularly those categorized as obese, have grown increasingly likely over the years to underestimate their true weight, according to a recent study.

11:49 AM EST, January 16, 2013

Like his character, 'Burn Notice' actor into martial arts

Jeffrey Donovan plays Michael Westen on USA's "Burn Notice," a series in which he's an ex-CIA agent now working private missions from Miami. To fit the role, Donovan works out regularly by boxing and circuit training. But he still finds time to scuba dive, especially off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

8:26 PM EST, January 23, 2013

Fending off stiffness

For a disease that affects 50 million adults in the United States, or about 1 in 5 people, arthritis is remarkably misunderstood.

12:41 PM EST, January 15, 2013

No exercise, more than couch, tied to fat in kids

For kids, time spent inactive seems less of a factor in higher body fat than does a lack of exercise, according to a new study.

6:25 AM EST, January 14, 2013

Racing to Om — fitness class combines spinning and yoga

Pairing indoor cycling's intense, calorie-busting cardio workout with yoga, the mind-body practice of stretching into inner peace, may seem like a mismatch but fitness experts say it works.

7:55 PM EST, January 11, 2013

Is being pear-shaped not so good after all?

If you're pear-shaped and smug, a new study's findings may take you down a peg: For those at slightly increased risk of developing diabetes, fat stored in the buttocks pumps out abnormal levels of two proteins associated with inflammation and insulin resistance. (And that's not good.)

3:16 PM EST, January 10, 2013

Screen time not linked to kids' physical activity

Cutting back kids' time watching TV and playing video games may not encourage them to spend more of the day running around outside, a new study suggests.

7:42 PM EST, January 9, 2013

Go small with fitness

Creating a home gym can be intimidating and expensive. But it doesn't have to be. Forget about the bulky treadmills, the weight areas and the gigantic stair-stepper. You can create an entire home gym that's small enough to fit into a desk drawer or into a carry-on suitcase. And research backs up the effectiveness of these tools. Read on to see what good comes in these small packages.

January 9, 2013

The importance of three R's: Reading, writing and recess

In this era of high-stakes testing, recess has taken a back seat to more scholarly pursuits. But don't be so quick to dismiss the value of downtime, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

3:42 PM EST, January 3, 2013

Walking linked to fewer strokes in women

Women who walk at least three hours every week are less likely to suffer a stroke than women who walk less or not at all, according to new research from Spain.

4:36 PM EST, January 2, 2013

New year, new diet. Or maybe same old diet. What works?

If only our collective memories worked a little better, we might recall that facing the new year with a little extra weight is what we did a year ago. And the year before that. Were those extra helpings of whatever it was – can you even remember? – worth it?

January 2, 2013

How to make those healthy resolutions stick

What is it about the New Year that motivates us to take control of our health and our lives?

6:16 PM EST, January 1, 2013

More evidence for 'obesity paradox'

In a review of almost 100 past studies covering nearly three million people, researchers found that being overweight or slightly obese was linked to about a 6 percent lower risk of dying, compared to people considered "normal weight."

6:59 AM EST, December 31, 2012

Pediatricians say kids need recess during school

A group of American pediatricians is telling school districts that children need recess and free time during the school day, and it should not even be taken away as punishment.

5:05 AM EST, December 31, 2012

Short and social workouts led fitness trends in 2012

From mud races to sweat parties to CrossFit competitions, workouts turned smarter, shorter and more social in 2012, experts say, as fitness was sweetened with a little help from smart phones and friends.

December 29, 2012

52 ways to leave your blubber

This is the year you will resolve to ditch the diets, the "all or nothing" mentality and the "no-pain, no-gain" fitness goals. This is the year you will resolve to use common sense to eat less junk food, move more — and have fun doing it.

5:03 PM EST, December 25, 2012

Obesity declining in young, poorer kids: study

The number of low-income preschoolers who qualify as obese or "extremely obese" has dropped over the last decade, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

9:28 AM EST, December 24, 2012

Allergies, extra weight tied to bullying

Kids who have food allergies or are overweight may be especially likely to get bullied by their peers, two new studies suggest.

8:25 PM EST, December 26, 2012

Making fitness happen

The fitness wake-up call can be a powerful catalyst for change. For Matthew Richter-Sand, it came during a flight home to see his family.

3:44 PM EST, December 20, 2012

Shape of human hand may have evolved for fighting, scientists say

Why are our hands the shape that they are? Compared with those of other apes, the thumb is longer and the palms and fingers are short. Scientist have  a variety of ideas as to why they evolved to be that way:

1:52 PM EST, December 19, 2012

Aerobics beats lifting weights for shedding pounds, study says

People who want to lose weight are better off running than lifting weights -- or even than doing both, researchers at Duke University say.

12:15 PM EST, December 19, 2012

Beyonce is urged to abandon Pepsi endorsement deal

Pop star Beyonce Knowles-Carter should make her $50-million endorsement deal with soda maker PepsiCo the best thing she never had, according to a health advocacy group.

2:33 PM EST, December 19, 2012

Spelman College to cut sports in bid to improve student health

Spelman College, the oldest historically black U.S. college for women, is scrapping its competitive sports program in a bold effort to help students combat the troubling health statistics faced by African-American women.

4:48 PM EST, December 18, 2012

Diabetes remission possible with diet, exercise

One in nine people with diabetes saw their blood sugar levels dip back to a normal or "pre-diabetes" level after a year on an intensive diet and exercise program, in a new study.

4:41 PM EST, December 17, 2012

Hairstyles may keep some black women from exercise

A number of obstacles may stand between a person and exercise, and hairstyles may be one of them for African-American women, according to a new study.