Limited “heading” of a soccer ball in youth sports may not cause irreversible harm, as long as players are properly trained, a new study finds. This study from concussion researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) looked at the consequences of repeated head impacts shortly after the impact. They did this using six different tests.… read on > read on >
All Do It Herself:
When Arthritis Strikes, Keep Moving
Your achy joints may suggest that you take it easy. Don’t listen to them, experts say. If it hurts when you get up from a chair or climb stairs, you might have osteoarthritis. If so, it’s best to keep moving. “While the pain from osteoarthritis worsens with activity and improves with rest, exercise is still… read on > read on >
Exercise Might Boost Your Tolerance for Pain
One potential solution to reducing chronic pain: Get moving. A new Norwegian study finds that physically active folks have greater pain tolerance compared to sedentary types. Those with higher levels of activity also had higher pain tolerance, according to the report published online May 24 in PLOS ONE. “Becoming or staying physically active over time… read on > read on >
Nowhere Safe to Play: ‘Play Deserts’ Keep Kids from Fun Physical Activity
The problem of “food deserts” in many parts of the United States has gained attention in recent years. Now, researchers are highlighting a similar issue: play deserts. In a recent study, investigators at the University of Georgia found that in many areas of the country — particularly the South — families have few safe, free… read on > read on >
Why Taking Your Kids to the Park Is Always a Healthy Idea
Need an activity to do with your kids on spring and summer days? Go to the park. Outdoor play is good for physical health, mental well-being and reduced stress in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “Whether it’s sunny or snowing, playing outside is good for children, physically and mentally,” said pediatrician… read on > read on >
Exercise No Threat to People With an Inherited Form of Enlarged Heart
People with the rare heart disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can safely engage in vigorous exercise, according to new research. This finding could lead to fewer activity restrictions for people with this condition, which involves the heart muscle becoming thickened and enlarged. HCM is an inherited disorder that affects about one in 500 people worldwide. It… read on > read on >
Another Possible Exercise Bonus: Preventing Parkinson’s
Regular exercise has a long list of health benefits, and a new study suggests another one could be added: a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. The study, of nearly 99,000 French women, found that those who were most physically active day to day were 25% less likely to develop Parkinson’s over three decades, versus women… read on > read on >
For NHL Players, More Fighting on the Ice Is Linked to Shorter Lives
Fighting is par for the course in professional ice hockey, but a new study raises the question of whether it is shortening some players’ lives. The study, of hundreds of National Hockey League (NHL) players, found that those who were “enforcers” on the ice — that is, did a lot of fighting — tend to… read on > read on >
COPD: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Finding out that you or a loved one has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be alarming and may leave you with a lot of questions. Though COPD has no cure, it’s a condition that can be managed with the right treatments and medications, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). Here’s what you need… read on > read on >
Summer’s Near: What’s the Best Sunscreen for You?
It’s easy to keep your skin safer in the summer sun if you have the right sunscreen. UCLA Health offers some tips for picking the best type and SPF level. Getting sunburned just five times in a lifetime doubles the risk of getting melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, so making sure you’re protected is… read on > read on >