The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Archive for the 'Exercise' Category

    Trade-offs: Comparing supplements vs. exercise

    Saturday, January 4th, 2014

    little-guy2Drs. Andrew Mendelsohn and James Larrick at the Panorama Research Institute and Regenerative Sciences Institute, in Sunnyvale, California, have complied an impressive list of reviews on the effects of exercise. Here’s the first in a series of summaries of their recent publications.

    (more…)

    TENS to reduce pain intensity in patients with tennis elbow

    Wednesday, September 4th, 2013

    tennis_elbow50People with “tennis elbow” (lateral epicondylitis) experience pain over the outer side of the elbow, which may extend down the forearm.

    Researchers at Keele University, in Staffordshire, UK, studied the response to TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) added to typical treatment. (more…)

    Review: Benefits of CAM to help treat hypertension

    Thursday, April 25th, 2013

    HeartBeatingThe American Heart Association has summarized the blood pressure-lowering effects of several alternative approaches and provided recommendations for their use.

    Here’s what we know in people with blood pressure (BP) levels higher than 120/80 mmHg. (more…)

    Here’s what we know about vitamin C and the common cold

    Thursday, February 14th, 2013

    150px-Ascorbic_acid_structureVitamin C (ascorbic acid) for preventing and treating the common cold has been a subject of controversy for 70 years.

    Now, The Cochrane Library has reviewed the data. (more…)

    Advantages of adding exercise to statin treatment

    Thursday, January 24th, 2013

    beating_heartStatins are prescribed to treat high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Increased fitness is recommended as an essential part of promoting health.

    Now, researchers at Georgetown University School of Medicine, in Washington DC, report the combined effects of fitness and statin treatment on mortality. (more…)

    Risk of injury to children who use trampolines

    Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

    Trampoline jumping is a beneficial and constructive physical exercise for children, but it has a significant risk for injuries.

    Now, after reviewing the evidence, the American Academy of Pediatrics is discouraging recreational use of trampolines in the home. (more…)

    Reducing the rate and risk of falling

    Saturday, September 15th, 2012

    Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.

    This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)

    Contributions of the counselor in diabetes lifestyle education

    Thursday, August 16th, 2012

    Researchers in the Netherlands have reported their findings in the Active Prevention in High-Risk Individuals of Diabetes Type 2 in and Around Eindhoven (APHRODITE) study. (more…)

    Adverse response to exercise

    Friday, June 1st, 2012

    Dr. Claude Bouchard and colleagues from around the US and Finland tell us that people differ in their response to regular exercise.

    Sometimes these differences contribute to adverse changes in cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, according to this study. (more…)

    Support for exercise to preserve cognitive function

    Monday, February 27th, 2012

    Researchers at the Foundation of Public Health, Mutuelle Generale de l’Education Nationale, in Paris, reanalyzed data from the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study (WACS), a cohort of women with prevalent vascular disease or 3 cardiovascular risk factors. (more…)

    Tai chi benefits in Parkinson’s disease

    Monday, February 20th, 2012

    Patients with Parkinson’s disease have impaired balance, which affects function and increases the risk of falling. Exercise is routinely encouraged by healthcare providers, but few programs have been proven effective.

    Researchers at the Oregon Research Institute, in Eugene, studied whether a tailored tai chi program could improve postural control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. (more…)

    Exercise during pregnancy

    Thursday, February 16th, 2012

    Researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Trondheim, assessed whether exercise during pregnancy might prevent gestational diabetes and improves insulin resistance. (more…)

    Testing exercise to prevent falls in Parkinson’s disease

    Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

    Researchers at the University of Exeter, in the UK, evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program in people with Parkinson’s disease who have a history of falls. (more…)

    Use of dietary supplements to enhance sports performance

    Monday, February 6th, 2012

    Researchers at Texas Chiropractic College, in Pasadena, studied children in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in order to estimate their use of supplements. (more…)

    Effect of low-risk lifestyle behaviors on the risk of dying

    Monday, February 6th, 2012

    Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined the relationship between 4 low-risk behaviors and mortality among a group of people in the United States. (more…)

    Problem of physical inactivity in adults with rheumatoid arthritis

    Sunday, February 5th, 2012

    Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago Illinois, studied the impact of this modifiable risk factor. (more…)

    Exergaming for older adults

    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    At first, I was skeptical, but research suggests there are benefits.

    Researchers at Skidmore College, at Saratoga Springs, New York, studied the effects of stationary cycling virtual reality tours (“cybercycle”) on executive function and clinical status. (more…)

    CAM use among people with migraine

    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, report patterns and reasons for its use.

    It’s not what you think. (more…)

    Effect of eating frequency on adiposity

    Monday, January 23rd, 2012

    Researchers at the University of California, in Berkeley, studied girls, 9 to 20 years old. (more…)

    Contributions of physical activity to ADHD care

    Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

    Researchers at the Universite de Montreal, in Quebec, explored the effects of physical activity programs on fitness, cognitive function, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behavior in children with ADHD. (more…)