If you’ve recovered from lower back pain, try walking away from a recurrence. New research out of Australia shows that folks who started a walking regimen kept recurrent back pain episodes at bay for much longer than people who didn’t. “We don’t know exactly why walking is so good for preventing back pain, but it…  read on >  read on >

Folks nearing retirement shouldn’t skip leg days at the gym, a new study advises. One year of heavy strength training preserves vital leg strength up to at least four years later, researchers found. “This study provides evidence that resistance training with heavy loads at retirement age can have long-term effects over several years,” concluded the…  read on >  read on >

Exercising in natural surroundings — a jog through a park, a bicycle ride along a trail — could be more beneficial than working out indoors, a new review suggests. However, access to natural areas that are public varies widely, with not everyone having the chance to exercise outdoors, the investigators noted. “The research is clear…  read on >  read on >

Nearly 1 in every 6 U.S. adults have engaged in the ancient practice of yoga over the past year, new government data shows. In fact, as Americans increasingly turn to alternative or complementary health approaches, “the largest increases [have been] in the practice of yoga,” noted researchers Nazik Elgaddal and Julie Weeks. They’re with the…  read on >  read on >

While going through menopause, many women who gain weight head to the gym for intense workouts, but new research suggests that too much exercise may help trigger another side effect: hot flashes. In a report published May 29 in the journal Menopause, investigators found that working out too vigorously may raise the risk hot flashes.…  read on >  read on >

A small urban garden can contribute to your health, especially if the garden contains rich soil, a new study shows. A one-month indoor gardening period increased the bacterial diversity of participants’ skin and appeared to improve their response to inflammation, researchers found. Growing, harvesting and consuming food produced in an urban garden every day could…  read on >  read on >