Interval cardiovascular training has been around at least since the 1930s when Swedish coaches introduced Fartlek training to their athletes. The alternating style of varying durations of high and low intensity exercise have been studied thoroughly in the research. One of the greatest strengths of interval training or high intensity interval training (HIIT) is its’...
Our immune system is one of the amazing cellular networks in our body. This system has come into direct focus as we face the COVID pandemic and try to improve our immunity to this virus through vaccinations. In addition to avoiding exposure through social distancing individuals often search for ways to boost their immune response....
Up until the COVID pandemic, cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death for both men and women in our country. Exercise, both aerobic and strength training, is an essential component of care for both the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Its’ beneficial effects on our body weight, cholesterol levels, heart rate, blood pressure...
Americans who are overweight are at a higher risk of many diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Thankfully many of these risk factors improve as an individual returns to a healthy weight through changes in their nutrition and exercise habits. Patients often ask if weight loss is the key factor in this...
The CDC reports over 2/3 of Americans are either overweight or obese with less than 1/3 reaching the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week (21 minutes per day). Weight loss is a complicated, multifactorial process but many researchers recommend the combination of diet and exercise to reduce body mass. Diet has the greatest impact...
The CDC estimates 10% of Americans have diabetes with close to 95% being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes is differentiated from Type I, in part, by the body’s reduced sensitivity to the insulin it produces leading to higher levels of blood sugar (glucose). Diabetes can have serious health consequences including vision loss,...
The CDC estimates that 2 out of every 3 American adults are either overweight or obese. These added pounds carry significant health risks to the individual including higher rates of disease, including COVID, and early death. The main strategy for weight loss involves creating a caloric or energy deficit each day through increased exercise and/or...
Our home city of Boulder often ranks near the top of fittest cities in the country due to its’ low obesity rate and higher percentage of citizens who meet or exceed national exercise guidelines. The CDC recommends each American participates in either 150 minutes or 75 minutes of moderate (ex. walking 3-4 miles/hour) or vigorous...
Our understanding on the mental and emotional health benefits of exercise continues to grow each year. Research studies have shown not only an association between higher levels of mental health and physical fitness, but also an ability to improve mental health variables including depression, anxiety, cognition, and memory in affected individuals. Exercise has a positive...
Exercise remains one of the best interventions to improve cognition, memory, and executive function in older adults, as well as, those with a decline in these functions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The research has developed from correlational studies showing more active individuals demonstrated higher cognitive function to more recent studies showing the impact...