In yet another example of the cost of the pandemic, a new study finds there were significant increases in bicycle- and gun-related injuries during coronavirus lockdowns in the United States, but a decrease in traffic injuries. Researchers analyzed data on more than 27,600 trauma cases at four Level I trauma centers in Orange County, Calif.;…  read on >  read on >

A new study may allay concerns that strenuous exercise could up the risk for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neurological disease. No evidence of rising ALS risk was seen among adults who routinely work up a sweat by playing team sports or engaging in heavy gym workouts. Nor was increased ALS risk associated…  read on >  read on >

Days in the saddle can be risky, with horseback riding a potentially deadly activity, according to a new study. “Hospital admission risk from horseback riding is higher than football, auto and motorcycle racing, and skiing,” the study authors noted. Chest injuries are most common among riders, but head and neck injuries are the deadliest. The…  read on >  read on >

Children who spent more time in nature during pandemic lockdowns suffered fewer behavioral and emotional problems, British researchers say. The investigators also found that children in wealthier families tended to increase their connection to nature during the pandemic more than those from poorer families. The new study included 376 families in the United Kingdom who…  read on >  read on >

Many American arthritis sufferers aren’t getting any exercise despite its benefits for reducing pain and improving their quality of life, new research shows. Sixty-seven percent of U.S. adults with arthritis engaged in physical activity in the past month, most often walking, according to a new data analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and…  read on >  read on >

You can add obesity and its related health risks to the long list of threats posed by climate change, researchers report. In a new review, researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia outlined the association between climate change and obesity. As global temperatures increase, people may become less physically active and less able to…  read on >  read on >

Golf carts aren’t just for golfing anymore: They also abound in retirement communities, on farms, and at sporting and other events. But the downside of that newfound popularity may be that an increasing number of children and adolescents are injured from the carts each year, a new study suggests. A research team from the Children’s…  read on >  read on >

A drowning child has a much lower risk of severe disability or death if a bystander steps in, even without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), new research finds. “Bystanders play a critical role in preventing poor outcomes in childhood drowning by instituting safe, early and effective rescue and resuscitation of pediatric drowning victims,” said author Dr. Rohit…  read on >  read on >