fitness

Job Pressure Hinders Exercise Plans

If you're working in a highly demanding and stressful job, you probably
"wish" you had the time and energy to exercise. You're not alone. According
to the findings of a new study by Dr. Nicola Payne of Middlesex University,
UK, it's not uncommon for people working in high-stress jobs to feel unable
to set aside time for regular exercise. These workers usually have little
time to spare or are in need of recuperation time at the end of a long
day-time that others with less demanding jobs might use for regular
workouts. Based on the study's findings, Dr. Payne suggests a need for
employers to actively encourage their employees to exercise by helping them
implement an exercise program and increase confidence in their ability to
stick to a regular fitness regime.

Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 2002; 7:342-353

Over 50? Run for Your Life!

Running is a hit or miss type of activity-you either love it or hate it.
However, a recent report in the Archives of Internal Medicine (November 11,
2002) may just convince all of us to hit the pavement. A new study conducted
from 1984 to 1997 has found that people over 50 who run on a regular basis
live longer and fare better during life than non-runners. Participants in
the study who were runners had lower rates of cancer and heart disease, and
were slower developing age-related, limiting disabilities than their
non-running counterparts. In addition, non-runners involved in the 13-year
study were more than three times as likely to die from various illnesses
while participating in the study. To further the findings, researchers took
a look at those who had only recently begun a running program. Surprise!
Even these participants reaped the benefits of the activity.

Your Brain Needs Exercise, Too

Exercising your brain will help to combat the natural decline in mental
acuity that comes with age. Dr. Karlene Ball and colleagues of the
department of psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, conducted a
study to see if it was possible to increase the mental abilities of older
adults who were without dementia and living independently. They found that
entertaining activities such as crossword puzzles or problem-solving
questions improved brain function. Basically, anything that requires some
concentration and extra thought can do the trick. So, if you are having one
of those days when you just don't have the physical energy for a workout,
why not take some time to give yourself a mental workout?

Journal of the American Medical Association 2002; 288:2271-2281

Hip is In

Resistance training benefits more than muscles, no bones about it. A group
of men and women between ages 60 and 83 participated in a study to see if
resistance training on a regular basis can help increase bone density in the
hip (one of the areas most likely to degenerate quickly). The answer
revealed was a simple "yes." The six-month study showed that hipbone density
increased most in those who used higher resistance. The exciting news is
that by the end of the study, participants were generating more bone than
they were losing.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2002: 34,
17-23