Research/Exercise Science Articles

Girls and boys are innately different in more ways than one. For example, it is fairly well known that boys possess greater potential than girls to develop muscular tissue. Another, lesser-known difference involves exercise and body composition. A recent study of 224 boys and girls ages 7–10 found no direct correlation between exercise and body composition among girls, as opposed to boys, in wh...

According to the American Heart Association (AHA 2004), over 79 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One in three deaths in th...

People of all ages can improve the quality of their lives and reduce the risks of developing coronary heart disease, hypertension, some cancers and type 2 diabetes with ongoing participation in moderate physical activity and exercise. Daily exercise will also enhance one’s mental well-being and promote healthy musculoskeletal function throughout life. Although habitual physical activity is an a...

When personal fitness trainers (PFTs) design resistance training programs, they regularly discuss with clients the issue of training to failure—or momentary muscular fatigue. Many trainers adhere to a very strict policy, stating that if muscular “failure” during...

Which is better for reducing fat: long bouts of exercise, or breaking physical activity into smaller sessions with an added rest period? According to a stud in the Journal of Applied Physiology (2007; 102, 2158–64), taking a break in the middle of a workout may metabolize more fat than exercising without stopping. Seven healthy men (average age 25) pa...

How does music affect exercise—and the exerciser?

Weight management programs abound, and they employ countless strategies and approaches. But all these programs should include three principal components: (1) an exercise plan that incorporates cardiovascular and resistance training to increase caloric expenditure and maintain muscle mass; (2) a lifestyle/ dietary approach that emphasizes balanced nutrition and decreased caloric ...

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...

Young adults with a short temper or mean disposition also tend to have compromised lung function, says a recent study published in the journal Health Psychology, by the American Psychological Association (APA). This occurred even when asthma and smoking were ruled out as possible causes of lung dysfunction.

When it comes to exercise, everybody's got an excuse. Or 10. "I had a list," says Farai Chideya, a 36-year-old Los Angeles journalist who recently began lifting weights and taking dance classes. "I'm too busy. Maybe I'll hurt myself. Shouldn't I be out meeting new people instead?"Despite the well-documented health benefits of exercise, fewer than...