Illinois News Bureau | Physical activity could combat fatigue, cognitive decline in cancer survivors
A new study indicates that cancer patients and survivors have a ready weapon against fatigue and “chemo brain”: a brisk walk. Continue.
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HealthDay News | What is ‘Moderate’ Exercise Anyway?
You’ve probably heard the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s recommendation for most adults to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days to stay fit.
But what exactly is moderate? And how do you know if you’re working hard or hardly working? Continue.
CNN |Why dancing is good for your health
Whitney Thore had gained nearly 100 pounds. It stemmed from polycystic ovary syndrome, and she found it hard to accept her larger figure.
Her emotional distress peaked while she was living abroad and dealing with a breakup. Frustrated and unable to find relief, she turned on some music and started to dance. Continue…
MedLine Plus |Don’t Let Your Garden Get You Down
Gardening season is here, but it doesn’t have to bring a fresh crop of aches, pains and muscle strains.
“While gardening helps to relieve mental stress, many people underestimate the physical stress your body can endure during this activity,” orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Raj Rao said in an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) news release.
“The constant bending, reaching and squatting involved could result in injuries to the lower back and knees, therefore it’s important to be mindful of your body’s position while gardening to avoid aches and strains,” Rao said.
The AAOS offers a number of safety tips:
- Before gardening, do some simple stretches to loosen your joints and muscles.
- Take breaks while you work and avoid staying in the same position for too long.
- To lift an heavy object, position yourself close to it, separate your feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees, tighten your stomach muscles and lift with your leg muscles as you stand up. If an item is too heavy or awkwardly shaped, ask someone to help.
- Use a garden stool when possible, or consider a vertical garden, wall planters or hanging plant baskets to make work easier.
- Stay hydrated.
- Wear gloves, sturdy shoes and long pants to guard against insect bites and injuries.
- Learn about the plants and trees around you. If you identify poisonous ones, keep young children away and teach them about the potential risks. If you cannot identify a plant or tree, take a sample to your local garden center for identification.
- Keep gardening equipment in good working order. Continue
SOURCE: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, news release, May 8, 2017
NYT Well |A 1-Hour Walk, 3 Times a Week, Has Benefits for Dementia
Exercise may bolster the brain function and thinking skills of people with dementia, according to a new report. The study’s findings suggest that walking a few times per week might alter the trajectory of the disease and improve the physical well-being of people who develop a common form of age-related memory loss that otherwise has few treatments. Continue.
EPL alumna, Neha Gothe, will be joining the faculty of the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health effective August 16, 2017. Neha will be the new director of the EPL (with assistance from EM!). We are delighted to have Neha back and wish her every success in her new UIUC career.
Congratulations, Neha!!
Congratulations to EPL graduate research assistant, Elizabeth A. Awick, on successfully defending her doctoral dissertation:
“Exercise Duration for Cognitive Health in Breast Cancer Survivors”
Click here to learn more about Elizabeth’s research interests.
Many of the EPL alumni back together again for dinner at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine – sporting EPL t-shirts of course!
Diane Ehlers, an American Cancer Society Post-Doctoral Fellow in the EPL, recently accepted a position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina.
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