crunches

High-Speed Resistance Training

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science High-speed resistance training (HSRT) is a relatively new approach to combat ailments associated with aging such as decreased muscle strength, decreased functional performance, and decreased quality of life. HSRT, which consists of fast, explosive movements, might be more effective than the more conventional low-speed resistance training in improving

trampoline exercises and rebound workouts

A Fun Alternative: Trampoline Workouts

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science In recent years, a new type of exercise has taken off in North America and around the world. “Rebound exercise”, or “Bouncercise”, comprises of balancing, jumping, and various exercises performed on a trampoline. Its increase in popularity is likely due to the fact that many people find exercise

warrior pose

Wii-Fit Can Improve Balance And Confidence In Older Adults

By Sara Thompson, M.Sc. in Exercise Science Aging adults are more prone to falling, leading to a higher risk of fractures and disability. This can cause a lack of confident to perform physical activity and activities of daily living. Increased risk of falls are due to a number of factors that are associated with aging,

woman and man spinning

Improve Fitness To Lengthen Healthspan

By Sara Thompson, M.Sc. in Exercise Science Neural specificity is how well the brain can distinguish one stimulus from another. Or in other words, how well an individual can visually recognize the differences between various images. This response occurs in a part of the brain called the ventral visual cortex and can be measured by

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

group exercising

3 Exercise Tips to Prevent and Treat Depression

Sara Thompson, M.Sc. in Exercise Science The 3 Pieces of Advice: Go out and try something. The hardest step is the first one, but once you start exercising you will feel better and be more inclined to continue. Add some high-intensity exercise into your routine. Even a little bit of moderate or vigorous activity can

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)

group balancing

Exercise Program For High Blood Pressure

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. in Exercise Science The Workout 4 Essential Activities for High Blood Pressure: Aerobic High-intensity Strength Balance 4 Specific Exercises for High Blood Pressure: Daily living (such as moving a weight from one place to another) Balance  Proprioceptive exercises Upper body resistance exercises *Each exercise was performed for one minute, followed by

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

senior yoga class

Work Your Body And Mind To Combat Stress

Sara Thompson – M.Sc. Exercise Science In today’s fast-paced world, work accounts for the majority of stress in the United States (Aitkens et al., 2014). Stress leads to numerous mental and physical consequences such as irritability, depression, difficulties sleeping, pain, as well as numerous stress-related diseases (Wolever et al., 2012). In addition to these health

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

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