nervous system anatomy

Exercise and the Autonomic Nervous System

Julia C. Basso, PhD The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a part of our peripheral nervous system that controls our involuntary physiological responses.  There are two components of the ANS – the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.  The sympathetic system is involved in our “fight or flight” response and gets us ready for action, whereas

Sleep Disorders and Exercise

Exercise and Sleep Disorders — Sleep Series Part 5

Gillian White, MSc., PhD (Candidate), University of Toronto, Graduate Department of Exercise Sciences Sleep Stats And General Information – Sleep Series Part 1 Sleep Physiology – Sleep Series Part 2 Sleep And Health – Sleep Series Part 3 Exercise And Sleep Quality – Sleep Series Part 4 1. Sleep Apnea Figure 1. Deformation of airways

Lengthen Healthspan Through Exercise

Julia Basso – PhD Youth is a sought after thing.  Doctors, scientists, and many others among us are actively seeking the elusive fountain of youth.  The ultimate question is:  how do we keep our bodies and minds young?  One of my favorite movies, Death Becomes Her, stars Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn.  In it, these

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

fly fishing

Best New Fly Fishing Gear of 2017

Hank Shell It’s springtime here in the Rockies. Temperatures are rising and rivers are swelling with runoff. Soon, the waters will recede, insects will begin to hatch, and anglers from across the country will wade into Colorado’s many streams to fool a few fish. We often think of spring as a time of rejuvenation, and

hockey

Role Reversal: The Therapist Becomes The Patient

Ryan Cross – B.A. Hons (Kin), MScPT, FCAMPT Registered Physiotherapist at CBI Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Anger. Fear. Pain. Anxiety. This is what I felt, in that order, when my injury happened.  While playing hockey, I took a blindsided hit (in a non-contact league) on my right shoulder and fell to

yoga class

Exercise, Fitness, And Alzheimer’s Disease

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. Exercise Science Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, affecting approximately 5.3 million Americans (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). It’s usually characterized by memory loss, but can lead to other complications such as changes in behavior, mood swings, and disorientation. There are no preventative treatments or cures for AD, however there is growing

Exercise and Ketones

Will Exercise Help the Brain Grow: Exercise and Ketones

Julia Basso – PhD Exercise and Ketones I am intrigued by the body-brain connection and am constantly thinking about how all of the physiological things that happen in our body from exercise like burning fat and building muscle contribute to exercise-induced improvements in cognitive functioning. One piece of the puzzle that I have written about

Exercise As Medicine

Exercise is Medicine – Summary of the American College of Sports Medicine Conference

Julia Basso – PhD Exercise As Medicine The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. They are dedicated to “advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.” This year from May 31 st to June

Sprint Training: The Secret To Younger Muscles - Part 1

Sprint Training: The Secret To Younger Muscles – Part 1

Fiona Callender, Research Assistant, University of Toronto Sprint Training: The Secret To Younger Muscles – Part 1 It has long been accepted that as we age we will all face an inevitable loss in muscle function and size. But it may be possible to slow down this process through exercise that targets specific muscle fibers

man sprinting down a track

Building Faster 400m Athletes With Split Runs

Gail Kuhnly, PhD   BACKGROUND  This research is going forth with the hope of proving that using split runs can be an effective method to train the high school 400m runner. The Fife High School (FHS) 2017 track team represents the test group and the FHS 2016 track team represents the control group. In this