Stretching makes you more flexible and helps your joints keep a healthy range of motion. It also makes you less likely to strain your muscles or joints.
How often should you stretch, though? How long should a stretch be held? How many times should each stretch be done?
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) put together a group of experts to look at a wide range of studies to help answer these questions. Stretching hasn't been studied as thoroughly as other forms of exercise, so the science isn't as strong. But the panel agreed, based on the evidence, that:
Stair climbing is one of the best ways to improve balance, build stamina, and keep from falling.
One of the best ways to tell if you're healthy is if you can climb a flight of stairs. It's often used to see how mobile and strong you are, how fit you are after an injury, and if it's safe to have sex again after a heart attack. But climbing stairs has a lot more to offer.
Michelle Munley, a physical therapist at Harvard's Spaulding Outpatient Center Peabody, says, "Stair climbing is a great all-around form of exercise for older people because it works multiple muscle groups at once, like your quadriceps, glutes, and calves." It also improves your cardiovascular strength and endurance. " "You can stay more active in life if you know how to go up and down stairs in a safe way."
Going up and down
There are many places to practice climbing stairs, from stair machines in the gym, to stairs in stairways and stadiums, to simple stairs in your own home.
It doesn't matter what kind of stairs you have, but keep in mind that not all steps are the same height, depth, or surface. Also, stairs without handrails are harder to use and may be more dangerous. Munley says, "Pick stairs in a comfortable place with steps you feel safe going up and down."
Also, going down the stairs is equally as vital as going up. When you walk up the stairs, your glutes and quadriceps do concentric contractions, which means they get shorter. When you walk down, on the other hand, the muscles do the opposite, which is called an eccentric, or lengthening, contraction. "Both movements are necessary for muscles to be strong and work well," says Munley.
When everyone was on COVID lockdown in 2020, hiking became a lot more popular. According to a report, the number of hikes in 2020 was 171% higher than in 2019. The number of people hiking alone went up by 135%.
Dr Edward Phillips, an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, says, "This makes sense since hiking remains one of the safest COVID activities because it is done outside and away from confined group settings." "Plus, what's a better way to get away from being stuck inside than to spend some time in nature?"
Not just a walk
Hiking is one of the best ways to feel better in both the body and the mind. First of all, it's a great way to build muscles in your legs. When you hike uphill, you work your hips and buttocks. When you hike downhill, you work your quads (the muscles in the front of your thighs).
Walking is a simple way to work out, but it's not always the best way to keep up the aerobic intensity. "Most people walk slowly and stop and start a lot, which keeps their heart rate from going up," says Dr. Phillips.
But hiking up and down uneven terrain uses more energy than walking on a flat surface. Your body has to work harder, so your heart rate goes up, you burn more calories, and your cardiovascular fitness improves.
You can also learn how to stay steady on your feet by trying to find your footing on a trail. This improves balance, which is a skill that keeps you from taking dangerous falls. As Dr. Phillips says, "When you challenge your body, it will change." So, if the hiking terrain makes you lose your balance, it will force your internal system to get better.
Hiking can also help your mental health. Studies have shown that older people who spend time in nature regularly sleep better, have less stress, less anxiety, and less depression. You can go hiking alone or with other people. Researchers have found that going on a nature walk with a group is just as good for your mental health as going on a hike by yourself.
Some claim that mountains exist to be climbed. Others counter that slopes should not be scaled but rather should be used to accelerate down in a cloud of stones and dust. We've compiled a list of the six top mountain bike locations on the planet in honour of individuals who enjoy things swift and furious.
Riva del Garda, Italy
Mountain biking in Riva del Garda, Italy
Moab, USA
Mountain biking in Moab, USA
There are routes for every skill level, but if you're looking for something difficult, try the Slickrock Trail, which is filled with exhilarating drops and breathtaking valley views. Check out Red Cliffs Lodge for the total Moab experience; it has its own winery and a hot tub for stargazing soaks at night.
Winterberg, Germany
Mountain biker riding through woods
For fans of fantasy football, plenty of reasons exist for supporting the game. Every week, you look forward to placing your confidence in your chosen player's on-field success. Building the perfect team is a challenge that takes skill and luck. But for millions of fantasy football fans across the country, the game is worth celebrating beyond the tournaments, challenges, and victories. Take a look at the history of fantasy football from a true NFL fan's perspective. Here are three reasons you'll never want to forget America's first fantasy football team. The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League (GOPPL).
1. The GOPPL gave NFL fans an opportunity to be owners, general managers, and head coaches
Whether you believe more in a rookie quarterback, a veteran receiver, a pair of consistent running backs, or a clutch kicker, the responsibility is on you. If you love fantasy football, you have to appreciate the way the part-owner of the Oakland Raiders, Bill Winkenbach, put the football in your hands. Especially when control over your team's future becomes a reality. So, do this one thing the next time you're talking fantasy football with your friends: give a mental nod to the group who launched the first league.
For one, it's worth mentioning that the rules and general idea of the game haven't changed much in 60 years. You score more points than your opponents and outwit them every draft. You build a dream team using a combination of your personal insight, research, and deep analysis of on-field statistics. Along the way, you can envision your team on the field excelling, all while embracing a sense of leadership on your way to victory. The founders of fantasy football wanted NFL fans in charge. You're everyone you need to be when you play fantasy football.
According to a recent BioMed Central article, weight stigma is the "social rejection and devaluation that accrues to people who do not conform to existing social norms of optimal body weight and shape." Simply put, weight stigma is prejudice based on a person's bodily weight.
According to the writers of this paper, weight stigma can cause changes in the body, such as higher cortisol levels, which can contribute to poor metabolic health and weight gain. Furthermore, people who are overweight may cope with weight stigma by increasing alcohol and substance usage, overeating to cope with negative feelings, and avoiding health care settings or social engagements. Chronic social stress leads to bad health outcomes, and studies have shown that weight discrimination raises the risk of death by 60%, even when body mass index (BMI) is taken into account.
What steps may be taken to overcome weight stigma?
There are numerous approaches to addressing weight stigma. The first step is to recognize that it exists because we can not combat anything until we first recognize it.
Altering the way we think and speak about people who are overweight is another step we can take. Eliminating the term "obesity" from our vocabulary is a vital step in this direction. When referring to a person with obesity, we should endeavour to remember that they are a person with an illness and to speak to them as a person rather than the illness they have. For instance, "person with obesity" should be used rather than "fat person." This is referred to as employing person-first language.
According to a recent survey, one in every five people owns a smartwatch or fitness tracker. These wrist-worn monitors are a convenient way to track your daily steps, and they're likely more accurate than the tally on your smartphone, which you may not have with you at all times. Most wearable devices also provide a variety of other data, such as your heart rate, walking speed, and so on.
But does using one have an impact on how active people are? The answer is yes, according to the largest study on the subject to date (see "Fitness trackers and activity levels: What's the evidence?"). Regular physical activity is essential for a healthy heart, and the improvements seen in this study could potentially make a difference, according to Dr Megan Wasfy, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital's Cardiovascular Performance Laboratory.
"The increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was close to 50 minutes per week, which is one-third of the 150 minutes recommended by federal activity guidelines," Dr. Wasfy says. The extra 1,200 daily steps taken when people wore trackers were roughly the same as the number of steps linked to a longer life in several studies. 10,000 steps a day has been recommended as a daily goal for a long time, but research shows that 8,000 steps a day is almost as good for your health, especially in older people.
What is the evidence for fitness trackers and activity levels?
A group of Danish researchers looked at the evidence and analyzed it to find out how feedback from wearable fitness trackers affects how much people work out and do other things.
They found 121 different studies involving nearly 17,000 mostly healthy adults ages 18 to 65. The participants' median age was 47, and the majority were female. The study's intervention periods had a median duration of 12 weeks.
Researchers discovered that using physical activity monitors led to an extra 1,235 steps per day and 49 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week on average. They also stood for an additional 10 minutes per day, though this was insignificant. The study was published in The BMJ on January 26, 2022.
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Numerous frequent injuries can be avoided by implementing these seven basic tactics into your practice.
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This short-term research of 80 overweight patients hammers home just how fundamental slumber is to our predisposition to put on additional pounds, says Dr Beth Frates, director of lifestyle medicine and wellness in the department of surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Sleep deprivation is associated with chronic disorders.
Takeaways for improving your sleep
For 40 years, I've attempted to lose weight through exercise. I take brisk walks for approximately two to three hours each week, as you instruct. However, I'm on the verge of quitting since I'm unable to lose enough weight to make the exercise worthwhile. Is there another reason why I should continue?
Yes. There is. Continue exercising even if you are unable to achieve a healthy weight. Why? Because consistent exercise has huge health benefits, even if you are unable to maintain a healthy weight. This idea is supported by a new comprehensive study of the health benefits of regular exercise, which will be published in the journal Science on October 22, 2021.