Research/Exercise Science Articles

Have you ever wondered if the effects of strength training differ between men and women, and among people of various races? Researchers in the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland sought to determine whether specific groups benefited more from strength training. The findings, printed in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2008; 40 [4], 669–76)...

Would you like to know how you can assist clients who are dealing with cancer-related fatigue? Simply help them keep moving, with their doctor’s clearance. According to a study published recently in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2008; [2]), “cancer-related fatigue is now recognized as an important symptom associated with cancer and its treatment.” However, when researchers an...

Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts advocate massage for enhancing resistance exercise performance. Some people cite improved circulation and lymphatic drainage as factors in efficient recovery. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2008; 22 [2], 575–82) suggests that rest may offer greater benefits than massage.

Experts often tout the benefits of regular exercise for healthy, active women during pregnancy. But what happens to the fetus during physical activity? A pilot study in The FASEB Journal (2008; 22 [1175], 3), published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, has found that women aren’t the only ones to benefit from a workout.

Ahrens, J.N., et al. 2007. The physiological effects of caffeine in women during treadmill walking. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21 (1), 164–68. Caffeine is one of the world’s most popularly consumed substances. In the U.S., a typical coffee-drinking adult consumes 200–400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine (2–4 cups of coffee) each day (Armstrong 20...

What would it take to get shoppers to use the stairs instead of the escalator? A team of British researchers recently discovered that healthy messages posted near stairwells attract people—and might even encourage them to opt for the stairs later in the day. The study appeared in the September/October issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.Nearly 82,000 pedestri...

The overall landscape of training methods and individuals who participate in recreational exercise is vast and varied.Who are these individuals, and what do they do? Let’s use “David” as an example. This fictional recreational-exercise client is an avid basketball player for an all-men’s league. His team plays twice a week, but David still wants to stay conditioned and maintain his strength. Ther...

The results of a new international study may support your efforts to design programs for clients who have experienced heart failure (and who have a doctor’s release). The “largest randomized clinical trial of exercise training ever performed” is now underway, involving 83 sites that will test 3,000 people to determine whether exercise is good for heart failure patients. <...

Larry Payne, PhD, founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), Richard Miller, PhD, co-founder of IAYT, and 800 participants in the growing field of yoga therapy met in Los Angeles, January 18–21, 2007, to kick off the first annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research. The symposium provided a forum for yoga teachers, therapists and researchers ...

research by Len Kravitz, PhD Winning at Losing: Secrets of Long-Term Weight Loss The secret is that there is no secret; there are just some commonsense behaviors and strategies for long-term success. Wing, R.R., & Phelan, S. 2005. Long-term weight loss maintenance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 82 (Suppl.), 222S...