All posts tagged: mobility

Children with obesity face a steep decline in adult economic mobility

Children with obesity face a steep decline in adult economic mobility

Published by José Betancourt

Children who experience obesity are substantially less likely to move up the economic ladder as adults. A recent paper published in the Journal of Population Economics shows that this health condition creates a lasting penalty that keeps young people from surpassing their parents’ income. The research highlights how physical health in early life acts as a hidden barrier to economic opportunity across generations. Intergenerational mobility is the ability of children to grow up and earn a higher income than their parents did. This upward movement is a foundational piece of the American dream. Recent data shows that this upward mobility is declining across the United States, especially for people starting in lower income brackets. At the same time, childhood obesity rates have climbed steadily. The researchers noticed a geographic overlap between these two trends. Regions like the American South and Midwest host the highest rates of childhood obesity and the lowest rates of economic mobility. Maoyong Fan, an economist at Ball State University, led the research team. He worked alongside Yanhong Jin, an agricultural and …

TechCrunch Mobility: Who is poaching all the self-driving vehicle talent?

TechCrunch Mobility: Who is poaching all the self-driving vehicle talent?

Published by skeptic

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, how AI is playing a part. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Normally, I have an analysis and then a little bird (my insidery bits curated just for you). But today I am combining them because I simply have too many little birds talking to me about the new talent wars. About seven years ago, the founder of a self-driving vehicle company told me that competing with the likes of Waymo for talent was “like a knife fight.” Now it seems there is a new poaching war going on, according to a handful of little birds. And it’s pushing base salaries (not including equity and other benefits) to between $300,000 and $500,000.  Here’s what is happening. The buzzy physical AI sector is filled with robotics and defense tech companies looking for people with a specific set of skills (to quote Liam Neeson). And these folks are mostly working at …

I’ve used this simple mobility exercise with every client I’ve ever coached to ease stiffness, boost mobility and improve posture

I’ve used this simple mobility exercise with every client I’ve ever coached to ease stiffness, boost mobility and improve posture

Published by Jenni Sidey

The internet is awash with complex mobility drills, promising scroll-stopping flexibility and range of motion, yet they require gymnast-level mobility to perform in the first place. There is, however, one simple exercise that I believe rarely gets the attention it deserves: shoulder dislocations. Don’t let the name put you off. Article continues below You may like This standing, beginner-friendly exercise helps release tightness in the chest, which can build up over the day when hunched over a keyboard. It can help mobilize and wake up your upper-back muscles, especially around the shoulder blades, to address poor posture. And with every repetition, it can help gently groove the shoulder socket to unlock improved range of motion and strength overhead. I love its restorative effect so much that I’ve prescribed it to every client I’ve ever coached, and rarely a day passes when I don’t rattle through a few reps at home or before workouts. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Lately, I was also reminded of its …

How IH-MIE is accelerating hydrogen mobility across Europe

How IH-MIE is accelerating hydrogen mobility across Europe

Published by skeptic

IH-MIE accelerates hydrogen mobility by connecting regions, SMEs, and innovation across Europe. With transport responsible for nearly 25% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, hydrogen-powered mobility is a critical solution for sustainable transportation. Recognising its importance, the European Union (EU) has positioned hydrogen as a strategic pillar in its European Green Deal and Hydrogen Strategy, underscoring its role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Co-funded by the European Union, within the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, and led by the Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia, in Spain, the IHMIE (Interregional Hydrogen Mobility Initiative for Europe) project aims to foster innovation, accelerate adoption, and establish a robust ecosystem for hydrogen-powered mobility across Europe, bridging gaps between advanced and less-developed regions. Challenges of H2 in mobility Infrastructure deficiency: As of 2023, Europe has 265 hydrogen refuelling stations. This limited infrastructure hampers widespread adoption. High costs and economic barriers: Green hydrogen production costs in Europe range from €5 to €8 per kilogram, which makes it less competitive with traditional fuels and poses significant challenges for SMEs, which often lack …

This small ball can unlock your mobility, and it’s under on Amazon

This small ball can unlock your mobility, and it’s under $10 on Amazon

Published by Jenni Sidey

There’s no doubt that stretching can be beneficial for mobility and flexibility, but when you’re dealing with excessive muscle tension and severely restricted joints, self-myofascial release (SMR) can be a game changer. SMR is a massage technique that uses the weight of your own body to press your muscles into equipment such as foam rollers and balls. The resulting pressure can alleviate perceived pain from stiff muscles, reduce post-workout soreness, and improve joint range of motion. One of my favorite SMR tools is the lacrosse ball. It’s small, inexpensive, easy to use, and incredibly effective on common tight spots, like the hips. Article continues below You may like “Their biggest advantage is precision,” says Dr Thanos Papavasiliou PT, DPT, SCS, who is a board-certified physical therapist and head of clinical operations at LainaHealth, “Compared with a foam roller, which has a much larger surface area—and is often better suited for broad muscle groups like the glute max—a lacrosse ball allows for more targeted pressure into smaller or deeper areas such as the tensor fasciae latae …

TechCrunch Mobility: ‘A stunning lack of transparency’

TechCrunch Mobility: ‘A stunning lack of transparency’

Published by skeptic

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! You might recall the congressional hearing last month that sparked criticism against Waymo over its use of remote assistance workers in the Philippines. We have covered that issue extensively. You can read about the company’s remote assistance and road assistance teams here and here.  Waymo tends to get the most attention because, well, those robotaxis are now operating commercially in 10 U.S. cities, with more coming soon. But the issue of remote assistance is not a Waymo issue. It’s an autonomous vehicle technology issue.  A new report from Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) makes my point.  Markey sent letters to seven U.S. companies — Aurora, May Mobility, Motional, Nuro, Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox — working on autonomous vehicle technology with a list of questions. He wanted to know how often these companies’ vehicles relied on input from remote staff.  They all refused …

“Your joints need to move to feel good”—a certified trainer shares the gentle mobility routine he uses with seniors to soothe joint stiffness after 60

“Your joints need to move to feel good”—a certified trainer shares the gentle mobility routine he uses with seniors to soothe joint stiffness after 60

Published by Jenni Sidey

As we age, muscles tend to get weaker, joints tend to get creakier and simply getting out of bed can feel like a workout in itself. At least, that’s what we’re led to believe. Certified personal trainer Carter Lee from BetterMe is adamant that you can arrest this decline by simply keeping active, and he’s shared a five-move routine that will help. Article continues below You may like “This workout is built around one simple premise: your joints need to move to feel good,” he tells Fit&Well. “As we age, stiffness creeps in, especially in the morning or after a long day, but this sequence is designed to push back against that.” Lee says this routine works from the spine outward, targeting the hips, shoulders and ankles in a “logical order that gradually wakes everything up” and gets synovial fluid moving to help lubricate your joints. “There’s no intensity here, no jumping around. Just controlled, deliberate movement through a full range of motion, the kind that aging connective tissue actually responds well to,” he continues. …

A physical therapist says that poor ankle mobility is a primary driver of falls and balance issues later in life—here’s how to improve it

A physical therapist says that poor ankle mobility is a primary driver of falls and balance issues later in life—here’s how to improve it

Published by Jenni Sidey

Ankle mobility might feel like a small thing to worry about, but it can make a significant difference to your life. “Poor ankle mobility is a primary driver of falls and balance issues later in life,” says Dr Jamie Bovay, founder of and lead physical therapist at KinetikChain Denver. I asked him why ankles are a weak point for so many people. You may like “Ankles usually become immobile due to a combination of position and a lack of use throughout the full range of motion,” he says. “Most of us spend our lives in shoes with slightly elevated heels, which keep the Achilles and calf muscles in a shortened state.” Over time, this shortened state leads to a limited range of motion in the ankle joint, causing it to stiffen and restrict movement even further. “Once it is stiff, not only can we not use our previous range of motion but the nervous system also ‘forgets’ how to access control of deep dorsiflexion (ankle bending),” he says. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, …

If you’re new to running, an expert wants you to try these four exercises for better strength and mobility

If you’re new to running, an expert wants you to try these four exercises for better strength and mobility

Published by Jenni Sidey

New runners tend to focus on one thing: running more. But according to Pilates teacher and physiotherapist Claire Mills, skipping strength and mobility work in favor of more miles is one of the biggest mistakes runners can make. “Running is a repetitive, high-impact activity where approximately three times your body weight goes through your leg when you land,” Mills tells Fit&Well. If your joints and muscles aren’t strong and mobile enough to tolerate the load, injuries can quickly start to happen. Article continues below You may like “If one area of the body lacks strength or mobility, another part has to compensate, and that’s when injuries can occur,” Mills explains. Shin splints, poor hip strength, runner’s knees and lower-back pain are just some of the most common issues Mills sees in her London-based clinic Core LDN. “Running is only one part of your training. Strength work, mobility, core training and recovery should be built in from the beginning—not added when pain starts,” Mills says. This is where her top four Pilates-inspired exercises come in. Unlike …

A yoga instructor says this is the one pose more people over 40 should be doing—it’s a game changer for hip mobility

A yoga instructor says this is the one pose more people over 40 should be doing—it’s a game changer for hip mobility

Published by Jenni Sidey

As you age, it’s natural to lose some mobility, and the hips are where many people will experience stiffness. This is made worse by modern life’s habits spent sitting, further reducing their range of motion. Fortunately, this isn’t irreversible. And, according to Yoga-Go instructor Melissa Leach, there’s one pose that’s particularly effective at mobilizing your hips. “Mandukasana, or frog pose, is a hip-opening posture designed to stretch the groin, inner thighs, pelvis and hip joints to improve hip mobility and relieve lower-back tension,” she tells Fit&Well. Article continues below You may like “As you enter your 40s, muscles naturally begin to lose mass and strength,” Leach explains. “Flexibility can also begin to decrease as joints become stiff.” “Frog pose promotes hip mobility and flexibility as it is an intense hip opener,” she says. “It can relieve tightness caused by everyday activities such as driving, sitting or cycling.” It’s not the most common yoga pose and the traditional version requires a base level of hip mobility. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a go. …