Stand Up Paddle Boarding Physical And Mental Benefits

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science With summer on its way, it’s time to put away the skis, snowshoes and toboggans and get ready for some summer activities. One summer sport that is rapidly increasing in popularity is stand up paddle boarding. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) involves standing on a surface similar to

balance training

25 Minutes Of Exercise Can Improve Knowledge

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science In my previous article, I discussed the use of exercise to improve physical and cognitive function in individuals with hypertension. In this study, Junior and colleagues (Junior et al., 2017) measured improvements in physical function in older individuals with normotension (normal blood pressure) and hypertension (high blood pressure)

A Poor Diet Impairs Memory, But Exercise May Help

Julia C. Basso, PhD Obesity is a worldwide epidemic.  Since 1980, obesity rates have nearly doubled, with 35% of adults over the age of 20 classified as overweight and 11% classified as obese.  It is theorized that the increase in obesity is due to the modern lifestyle, which is characterized by highly available, energy dense

lat pulldown

Resistance Training For Parkinson’s Disease

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science Parkinson’s disease (PD) is second only to Alzheimer’s in being the most common neurodegenerative disease (L. A. B. MS & MS, 2013). While Parkinson’s Disease is most commonly associated with motor impairments, research suggests that cognitive abilities are also impaired among individuals with the disease. As such, Parkinson’s Disease

High-Intensity Exercise with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Gillian White – MSc, PhD (C), University of Toronto, Department of Exercise Sciences As I wrote about previously in “How to get active with rheumatoid arthritis”, there are lots of benefits to be gained from exercise in people living with rheumatoid arthritis. The article outlines guidelines around minimizing joint loads, while still getting a good

spin class

Parkinson’s Disease & Cycling Benefits

Catherine O’Brien Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a disease of the nervous system that is characterized by impaired motor function. This impairment can manifest in various ways including tremor, bradykinesia (slowed movement), rigid muscles, impaired posture, loss of automatic movement and impairment of speech and writing ability (Mayo Clinic, 2015). According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation,

Bone Health

New Exercise Recommendations For Osteoporosis

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density, decreased bone strength, and an increased risk of falling.  According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 9.9 million Americans have osteoporosis, the majority of these individuals being postmenopausal women, due to the decrease in estrogen (Bilek et al., 2016). Low bone

women playing soccer

15 Minutes Of Soccer Can Improve Bone Health

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science In my last article I discussed the novel use of resistance training with high impact loading to increase bone mass, bone strength and decrease the risk of falls in postmenopausal women with low bone mass (Watson et al., 2015). In the preliminary results of this trial, researchers observed

cyclist

Breaking Records and Barriers: Robert Marchand

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science Earlier this year, Robert Marchand made history by setting a new world record for 1-hour track cycling in the 105 and over category. During this prestigious Union Cyclist International (UCI) race, athletes compete against the clock to cover the greatest distance in one hour of cycling. On January

ankle bone

Ankle Sprains Start In The Hip

Ryan Cross – B.A. Hons (Kin), MScPT, FCAMPT Registered Physiotherapist at CBI Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Over the past few weeks I have written about the importance of the hip joint in prevention and recovery of injuries.  In two articles I highlighted how the hip can influence the back and the knee,

Recipe For Setting And Achieving Goals

Catherine O’Brien Control, Competence and Connectedness Many people enter the new year with fitness and health goals. Whether it be to lose weight, go to the gym consistently each week, or run a marathon, the New Year is a time to reset and refocus. We are about a month into 2017…how are your health related

Aerobic Exercise – A Treatment For Schizophrenia

Catherine O’Brien Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental disorder that impacts perception, cognition, emotional regulation and thought processes. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of schizophrenia are often categorized as positive, negative, or cognitive. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and thought and movement disorders. Negative symptoms include flat affect, reduced feelings