Seniors battling insomnia are best off picking up some dumbbells or doing some push-ups, a new evidence review suggests. Resistance exercise, activities that make muscles work against an external force, appears to be the best means of improving sleep in older adults, researchers found. “Exercise that strengthens muscles, rather than aerobic or combination exercises, is…  read on >  read on >

Social media influencers tout the benefits of “cycle syncing” to boost strength training results among women. The idea is that women who lift weights during their period build more muscle, because their bodies are flooded with the female hormone estrogen. But there’s absolutely nothing to this trendy notion, a new small-scale study argues. Researchers found…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY. Feb. 28, 2025Moving your body helps your brain, a new study suggests. Folks who regularly exercise have better mental and brain health, researchers will report in early April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in San Diego and online. Moderate to vigorous physical activity reduces risk of dementia, stroke, anxiety,…  read on >  read on >

Frequent exercise can help colon cancer survivors live longer, perhaps even outlasting average folks, a new study suggests. Colon cancer patients who were very physically active had three-year survival rates that were slightly higher than the general population, researchers report in the journal Cancer. “This new information can help patients with colon cancer understand how…  read on >  read on >

Stroke patients leave the hospital with better prospects if they’re forced to hoof it more during recovery, a new study suggests. Adding a half-hour of progressive walking exercises to standard stroke rehab measurably improves patients’ quality of life and mobility by the time they go home, researchers say. “Although guidelines recommend structured, progressive exercise after…  read on >  read on >

Ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl, some good news for the athletes: NFL players are largely avoiding opioid-based pain relievers when injuries strike. A new study of data from the 2021 and 2022 seasons finds the National Football League’s efforts to curb addictive opioid use is working, with the drugs comprising less than 3% of…  read on >  read on >

Cold showers or ice baths have become a trendy way to recuperate after a heavy-duty workout, but do they actually help? A new evidence review suggests there’s some science to back up the hype. People report lower stress, improved sleep and better quality of life following cold-water immersion, researchers reported Jan. 29 in the journal…  read on >  read on >

People with low back pain might want to look into the ancient Chinese mind-body movement exercise known as qigong, a new study published recently suggests. Qigong is similar to tai chi, in that it uses slow-flowing exercises and still, meditative postures to ease tension and increase flexibility. The practice brought pain relief and better sleep…  read on >  read on >