Ralph La Forge, MS
Ralph La Forge, MS
Article Archive
Recently, as co-chair of a medical conference on the metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia, I seized the chance to slip a short discussion of yoga-based lifestyle research into a long day of clinical trial expositions that mostly focused on lipid-lowering drug studies. I felt somewhat meek describing a number of relatively small studies, all done on small budgets, while most clinical trials being discussed were 50- to 200-million-dollar studies sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry or the National Institutes of Health [NIH].
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Mindful exercise programs—particularly yoga, qigong and tai chi—have played an increasing role in managing a number of chronic-disease states in recent years. The most prevalent chronic illnesses in the United States are cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke), cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Medical-care costs of treating chronic conditions
account for more than 75% of the $2
trillion spent annually on medical care (CDC 2008).
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Grundy, S.M., et al. 2004. Definition of metabolic syndrome: Report of the NIH/
AHA conference on scientific issues related to definition. Circulation, 109, 433–8.
Mistretta, J.L., et al. 2004. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36 (5, Suppl.), S4.
Background. Social opportunities during exercise—such as having a partner for conversation—provide a distraction and may encourage adherence. As long as exercise intensity is sufficient relative to participants’ fitness levels, benefits can be derived.
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Thacker, S.B., et al. 2004. The impact of stretching on sports injury risk: A systematic review of the literature. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36 (3): 371–8.
Purpose. Researchers at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion systematically reviewed the research literature in order to assess whether stretching effectively prevents sports injuries and to make recommendations for research and prevention.
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Strength Training and Postexercise Metabolism Schuenke, M.D., Mikat, R.P., & McBride, J.M. 2002. Effect of an acute period of resistance exercise on excess postexercise oxygen consumption: Implications for body mass management. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 86, 411. Background. Studies have shown that metabolism remains elevated for hours following resistance exercise, but no trials have…
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If there was ever an exercise study that got the attention of physicians and health care decision makers, it was the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The aim of this 3-year, multicenter, randomized clinical trial was to determine whether lifestyle intervention (including exercise) or pharmacological therapy (metformin) would prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in…
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The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently published its current Position Stand on “Appropriate Intervention Strategies for Weight Loss and Prevention of Weight Regain for Adults” (Jakicic, J.M., et al., 2001, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33 [12], 2145-56). This evidence-based position paper updates existing guidelines, including those pertaining to the quality and quantity of exercise necessary for weight loss.
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