Exercise Without The Gym!
Many people who are into fitness tend to spend large amounts of time at the gym. This undoubtedly yields great results for a lot of people, but it can be quite time consuming - as well as expensive! If you don’t have the time or the money to be getting in the gym as often as you would like, then there are plenty of alternatives that are just as great for your health and fitness.
Train Well and Prevent Injury!
Being a runner is a fantastic way to keep fit! This kind of exercise can be very challenging, but it is also extremely rewarding. Once you have got the hang of it, you will likely find that running is a fun activity, and is certainly one that will help to promote good health.
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Get Fit Faster with an App
Getting into shape is an enjoyable process for some people, but many people do not find it easy! With so much varying information and advice on nutrition and exercise, it can be hard to know what you should do in order to maximise your efforts.
With the advent of technology it has become much simpler to track your progress when it comes to exercise and also to stay on top of your diet. This is thanks in no small part to the many apps that have been developed for this specific purpose.
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Run a Mile to Keep your Smile!
Researchers have extensively studied the relation between running and arthritis of the knees to conclude that running regularly may not increase the risk of osteoarthritis. In fact, running can prevent arthritis of the knee in runners.
This study contained data from 2600 people who used to perform some form of physical activity in their life. Study age groups were divided into 12-18, 19-34, 35-49 and 50 and older. Finally, 29% of the people were runners at some point of time in their lives.
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Exercises to Reduce Back Pain
The back bears the brunt of our mobility. The spine that helps us hold our head high and literally rise above other animals that walk the earth, pays a huge price for this anti-gravity action. It is essential that we take care of the back, especially the lower back that transmits the entire upper body weight to the lower limbs. Those who suffer from backache due to any reason realize the importance of this vital part of our skeletal and muscular system. Here are some tips that will help you deal with back pain to prevent you from becoming a slave to chronic backache.
- Maintain correct posture- poor posture is one of the most common reasons for backache amongst people, especially those having sedentary jobs. A study confirmed that those with back pain compared to people with no back pain and those with a higher intensity of pain had higher tendencies to sway. This means that maintaining good posture is vital to prevent non-specific back pain that can often be disabling if chronic. Habits for good posture are sitting or standing erect, without stooping or hunching the shoulders.
- Play sports- Engaging regularly in sports like swimming, running or walking in waist-deep water helps in maintaining back strength and stability. Studies have found that aquatic exercises are better than land-based exercises in regards to chronic lower back pain control. Read more
Fun Run!
Whether you are a four year old boy or an old centurion, running is a sport which is enjoyed by the people of all age groups. In fact, world records have been set by these youngest and the oldest marathoners, Budhia Singh and Fauja Singh respectively. As the spring sets in, the temperatures are soothing enough to step out in the inviting sun and run against the soft wind blowing on your face. Exploring the country side and rejuvenating yourself amidst the budding flowers makes one feel alive in the heart of Mother Nature.
Cross country running as a sport does not require much equipment, but it surely requires a good exercise and training regimen to keep you on track for a long time. The benefits of this sport are similar to any other form of sport. People with co morbid conditions like diabetes or heart ailments too can enjoy this form of physical fitness program under guided supervision of a trainer.
The most important equipment required for running is the right foot wear based on the shape of your feet. It is important to select a show with correct arches as a person can have a neutral, flat or a high arch. An ill fitted shoe can give rise to a condition known as plantar fasciitis where the insole of the foot can get inflamed and give rise to pain. Another common condition that can occur is an inflamed tendo-Achilles, where a person experiences pain at the back of the heel due to inflammation of the tendons at the heels.
Over-enthusiasm with a rigorous training program, or increasing the distance of running too fast than what you have been used to, can give rise to a runner’s knee where a person experiences pain under the knee cap. There can be pain while doing any activity that requires movement at the knee joint like sitting, standing, and climbing stairs. A shin split where the shin gets affected due to a pull of the muscles of the lower leg too can occur due to overuse. Rest, pain killers and ice fomentation give relief. A good warm up and stretches prior to the run and cooling down after the run can prevent most of the injuries from happening.
After all, to run the rat race, you need to be an ace of the fitness race!
Penned by Dr. Rachita Narsaria, MDReferences:
http://www.active.com/running/articles/6-common-running-injuries-to-avoidTry Endurance Running
Have you ever wanted to try an interesting or unique sport? Do you have limited time in your daily routine to branch out into new activities? Put a new spin on a traditional concept and become an endurance runner! Regardless of your age, endurance running might be the key to better health and more excitement in your life.
As one of the oldest activities, running has been a popular pastime for thousands of years. Recently though, long-distance running has become more popular than ever. To get a better idea of who runs long distances, 1200 ultramarathon runners were sampled in a recent study. Unsurprisingly, the sample group was healthier than the general population. Surprisingly though, half were older than 42. The only common medical issues experienced were knee, foot, or allergy related.[1]
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