Researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada compared the heart benefits of brief, high-intensity forms of exercise compared to traditional, long-duration and moderately intense exercise.
Category Archives: Exercise
Aquatic vs land-based exercise for knee osteoarthritis
Aquatic exercise has less adverse effects, but what about effectiveness? Continue reading Aquatic vs land-based exercise for knee osteoarthritis
Extensive review of fibromyalgia
Dr. Daniel Clauw from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has published a continuing education review on Medscape, with recommendations for CAM. Continue reading Extensive review of fibromyalgia
STARS (Steps Against Recurrent Stroke)
The National Stroke Association along with Bristol-Meyers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals sponsors the STARS program, which is designed to inform stoke patients how to reduce their risk for recurrent stroke.
There are 5 things to do. How many of them include at least some component of CAM? Continue reading STARS (Steps Against Recurrent Stroke)
Limited support for tai chi in rheumatoid arthritis
Although the researchers identified 45 potentially relevant studies, only 5 were good enough to review. And the differences in the studies made it impossible to pool the results for a reanalysis of the data (meta-analysis). Continue reading Limited support for tai chi in rheumatoid arthritis
A philosophy for treating chronic pain
The Journal of the American Medical Association has an article in their Clinical Crossroads series by Dr. James Rathmell that presents a case history of a 50-year-old man with chronic back pain. Dr. Rathmell is Director of the Center for Pain Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
I’ve focused on his thoughts as they relate to non-pharmacologic treatment options and his philosophy on treating the chronic pain patient. Continue reading A philosophy for treating chronic pain
CoQ10 reduces evidence of muscle injury
In this study from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, supplementation with the antioxidant, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) reduced exercise-induced muscular injury in athletes. Continue reading CoQ10 reduces evidence of muscle injury
Spinal manipulation vs NSAIDs for low back pain
For the treatment of acute low back pain, “improvements using NSAIDs [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] vs placebo are modest, and whether NSAIDs confer greater benefit than acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol) is controversial,” according to Dr. Charles Vega from the University of California, Irvine.
Here’s his view of spinal manipulation. Continue reading Spinal manipulation vs NSAIDs for low back pain
Palliative care for all patients with lung disease
The American Thoracic Society has published recommendations for combining palliative with standard care in patients with chronic and advanced respiratory tract illnesses or critical disease.
These recommendations expand palliative care to include all patients with respiratory disease. The complementary recommendations are highlighted below. Continue reading Palliative care for all patients with lung disease
The value of physiotherapy following stroke
Physiotherapy (or physical therapy) is defined as the treatment of disease by physical exercise, massage, or other manipulative body-based methods — not drugs. Wikipedia has a good overview.
Cochrane has judged the evidence. Continue reading The value of physiotherapy following stroke
Chiropractic Awareness Week
It runs from April 14th to 20th in the UK.
The British Chiropractic Association is offering a controlled 3-minute exercise routine. Continue reading Chiropractic Awareness Week
Getting “enough” exercise
It’s the eternal argument: How do we get the benefits while minimizing the risks?
For those of us in middle age, I think this article at USNews.com by Helen Hobson brings reason to the debate. Continue reading Getting “enough” exercise
Complementary treatments for breakthrough pain
Breakthrough pain is a worsening or flare of pain that occurs in patients whose pain is otherwise controlled.
Dr. Neal Slatkin, who is director for the Department of Supportive Care, Pain & Palliative Medicine at the City of Hope has reviewed the treatment options — including CAM. Continue reading Complementary treatments for breakthrough pain
Fewer calories or more exercise: Which is best for weight loss?
A study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reveals that dieting alone is as effective at reducing weigh and fat as a combination of diet and exercise — as long as the calories consumed and burned are equal.
There was one important difference, however.
Here are the details.
Continue reading Fewer calories or more exercise: Which is best for weight loss?
Will adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age improve your health?
The answer is yes — especially among people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status — according to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Continue reading Will adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age improve your health?
Growth hormone does not improve athletic performance
I guess this fits if you view growth hormones as a complementary addition to athletic conditioning. Continue reading Growth hormone does not improve athletic performance
An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
Dr. Eric Ruderman, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago has published a review on Medscape, with lots of space devoted to CAM: exercise, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements. Continue reading An academic allopathic view of CAM options for arthritic pain
Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
There are lots of recommendations to prevent or treat this cause of back pain.
Here’s what the Cochrane Collaboration found.
Continue reading Managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy
Risk factors for regaining weight after weight loss
Maybe if we knew the risks for weight regain after weight loss we could avoid the latter.
Well, here they are. Continue reading Risk factors for regaining weight after weight loss
Qigong benefits in elderly people with depression
The results of this study show that regular qigong practice could relieve depression and improve self-efficacy and personal well being among elderly persons with chronic physical illness and depression.
The real message is that active seniors have better quality of life than their sedentary neighbors. Continue reading Qigong benefits in elderly people with depression