All posts tagged: Physical

A physical therapist says a weak upper body is a telltale sign that you will age poorly—here’s how he recommends you fix it

A physical therapist says a weak upper body is a telltale sign that you will age poorly—here’s how he recommends you fix it

Published by Jenni Sidey

At Fit&Well, we often talk about the importance of maintaining your core strength and balance as you age to minimize the risk of falls. But that shouldn’t mean you neglect other parts of your body. According to physical therapist Jamie Bovay, you should be paying particular attention to your upper body. “Your upper body is your main interface with the physical world,” Bovay tells Fit&Well. “If you don’t maintain it, you are going to lose it and slowly give up your independence.” He explains that age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, often disproportionately impacts the upper body. Latest Videos From You may like If you’re a relatively mobile person, you’ll use your leg muscles to walk around, stand up, sit down and climb stairs. For that reason, those muscles will tend to remain functional for longer. The upper body can atrophy more quickly without direct attention, especially if you begin to avoid using your upper body because you’re afraid of injuring yourself. Well-meaning family members may take your grocery bags off you or support you …

Returning to exercise? A physical therapist recommends mastering these three glute exercises before picking up weights

Returning to exercise? A physical therapist recommends mastering these three glute exercises before picking up weights

Published by Jenni Sidey

Whether you’re doing bodyweight exercises or you can squat 300lb, your form should always be your number one priority. Good technique when exercising can help you to train more efficiently, avoid injury and progress faster. Meanwhile, poor execution can lead to muscle imbalances and joint issues. The best way to build good form is to start by practicing exercises with no weight at all. This is particularly true when training large muscle groups like the glutes, the muscles in your butt. Latest Videos From You may like “Fitness and rehabilitation professionals alike agree that bodyweight exercises—performed with proper form and full range of motion—can effectively target the gluteus maximus and medius during the initial stages of training, just as their weighted counterparts do,” says Dr Andrew Gorecki, a licensed doctor of physical therapy and owner of MovementRX. “Bridges, split squats, and hip hinges are popular in physical therapy protocols because they focus on stability first before strength.” Once you have the basics perfected and have built a basic level of strength and stability, then you …

A doctor of physical therapy says this low-intensity routine will build strength and boost mobility

A doctor of physical therapy says this low-intensity routine will build strength and boost mobility

Published by Jenni Sidey

Convenience and consistency are the essential ingredients in this gentle home workout. Designed by Dr Christynne Helfrich, a doctor of physical therapy at Hinge Health who specializes in working with beginners and older adults, it is centered around simple, familiar movements that people are already doing in their day-to-day lives. For example, it combines functional exercises—like going from seated to standing to replicate the action of getting in or out of a chair—with single-leg movements that will improve your ability to avoid falls. Latest Videos From You may like “By practicing these moves with a bit more control and intention, you can build strength, improve balance and support mobility in ways that are practical and sustainable,” says Helfrich. With repetition and gradual progression, she believes it is possible to foster “movement optimism” in people who are new or unfamiliar with exercise. “What matters here is creating a routine that leads to better movement, more confidence, and greater independence over time rather than pushing for intensity,” she tells Fit&Well. How to do the workout Helfrich says …

Who do you think would win in a physical fight between you and Donald Trump?

Who do you think would win in a physical fight between you and Donald Trump?

Published by Sam Flores

This story was originally reported by Terri Rupar of The 19th. Meet Terri and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy. Who do you think would win in a physical fight between you and Donald Trump? The question, asked by YouGov, was sparked by a Tuesday event in the Oval Office, when the president revived the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. “Are you a strong person?” Trump, 79, asked a child in attendance. “You think you could take me in a fight?” Overall, 55 percent of Americans said they could take Trump in a fight; 19 percent said Trump would win. More men (64 percent) than women (47 percent) say they could beat Trump. For comparison’s sake, earlier YouGov polling showed that 71 percent of men think they could take a goose in a fight; 51 percent of women say the same. One factor that makes people more likely to say they would lose: being Republican. 46 percent of Republican men say they would beat Trump 82 percent of Democratic men say the …

Brooding identified as a major driver of bedtime procrastination, alongside physical markers of stress

Brooding identified as a major driver of bedtime procrastination, alongside physical markers of stress

Published by José Betancourt

People who stay up later than intended may have a weaker physiological capacity for self-control. A new study published in the Journal of Health Psychology links lower heart rate variability to greater bedtime procrastination. Many individuals experience the temptation to prolong their use of digital devices, or complete further tasks, despite being aware that they should already be asleep—a behavior known as bedtime procrastination. Scientists have previously connected bedtime procrastination to difficulties with managing behavior and emotions. Individuals who struggle to prioritize long-term wellbeing over short-term enjoyment, or who have trouble regulating negative feelings, are thought to be more prone to pushing their bedtime later. What has been less well understood is whether this tendency also has a measurable biological marker. A promising candidate is heart rate variability (HRV), defined as the natural variation in the time between heartbeats. Previous research has demonstrated that a higher level of this variability—particularly the component driven by the body’s calming “rest and digest” nervous system (the vagus nerve)—is associated with adaptability to stress and a greater capacity for …

Untreated sleep apnea linked to physical brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease

Untreated sleep apnea linked to physical brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease

Published by José Betancourt

People who have difficulty breathing during sleep may be more vulnerable to the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. New research published in Neurobiology of Aging provides evidence that sleep-disordered breathing has a meaningful effect on key brain and spinal fluid markers of the condition across different stages of cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and identifying modifiable risk factors has become an urgent priority. Sleep-disordered breathing — an umbrella term for conditions where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, including obstructive sleep apnea — is now thought to be one such factor. Previous research suggested that sleep breathing problems might accelerate the build-up of a toxic protein called amyloid-beta in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. However, studies have produced inconsistent results, and few have examined how these effects differ depending on how far along the Alzheimer’s disease process an individual already is. To better understand this distinction, a team led by Mohammad Akradi of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran analyzed data from 757 participants enrolled in the …

Tracking Trump’s physical changes to D.C. : NPR

Tracking Trump’s physical changes to D.C. : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

The White House ballroom, reflecting pool resurfacing, Kennedy Center renovations and a triumphal arch are among the many changes Trump wants to make in D.C. Tom Brenner, Rahmat Gul, Mark Schiefelbein, Jon Elswick/AP hide caption toggle caption Tom Brenner, Rahmat Gul, Mark Schiefelbein, Jon Elswick/AP President Trump is looking to make his mark on the White House and Washington, D.C., and not just politically. The longtime real estate developer has either announced or embarked on a number of construction and renovation projects across the nation’s capital. “I have two jobs,” Trump said in late 2025, the presidency being just one of them. “I have a construction job, which is really like relaxation for me because I have been doing it my entire life.” Some of those changes are seemingly temporary, like the huge banners of Trump’s face hanging from the Justice Department, Department of Agriculture and other federal buildings. Several concern the decor and aesthetics of the White House, like the paved-over Rose Garden and gilded Oval Office. Others are matters of nomenclature, like the …

A physical therapist says you should work on strengthening this often overlooked area if you want to age well and stay independent

A physical therapist says you should work on strengthening this often overlooked area if you want to age well and stay independent

Published by Jenni Sidey

One of the things that worries me most about getting older is losing the ability to use my hands properly. I’ve been helping my grandmother to catalog several lifetimes’ worth of pictures—some taken, some inherited—because she struggles to hold a pen for more than a minute or two. While spending more time with my grandmother has been a wonderful experience, watching her struggle has left me thinking about how grip strength and fine motor skills can begin to deteriorate later in life. Article continues below You may like “Grip strength often doesn’t get much attention, but it plays a huge role in overall health,” explains Devin Trachman, clinical director of Physical Therapy Central. “This is especially true as we get older. “It is about so much more than opening jars or carrying groceries. Strong hands help us stay independent and continue doing the things that make daily life feel normal and enjoyable. “As the years go by, we rely on our grip for countless small but important tasks like holding a glass of water, using …

If You Bet on Polymarket, This New Study May Cause You Physical Pain

If You Bet on Polymarket, This New Study May Cause You Physical Pain

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech In traditional gambling halls, it’s common knowledge that the house always wins. On newly popular prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, it’s a little different yet substantively the same: instead of the casino coming out on top, a tiny group of highly skilled traders rules the roost — their winnings subsidized by every other small-time sucker, who statistically is almost certainly you. According to a new paper by researchers at the London Business School and Yale, prediction markets are largely dominated by the top 3.14 percent of users. On a platform like Polymarket, which has a monthly active user base of around 700,000 bettors, this means around just 21,000 highly informed gamblers are coming out ahead. Everyone else is effectively flipping a coin at best, and flushing money down the drain at worst. “These accounts,” the researchers write, “generate most of the trading volume but do not systematically improve price accuracy. Prediction market accuracy thus reflects the wisdom …

Over 50 and worried about falling? This quick test used by physical therapists reveals your risk—here’s how to try it and improve your balance and mobility

Over 50 and worried about falling? This quick test used by physical therapists reveals your risk—here’s how to try it and improve your balance and mobility

Published by Jenni Sidey

Worried about how mobile you are? Scared of losing your balance and falling? There’s a simple clinical test that’s used by physical therapists that you can try at home. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test measures how quickly you can get out of a chair, walk three meters, turn around, and then walk back to the chair and sit down. But it’s not just about speed. The TUG test assesses a bunch of other important physical skills, from functional mobility—how well you move in everyday tasks—and balance, to gait (your walking pattern), lower-body strength, coordination and turning ability. Article continues below You may like “The TUG is a physical performance test I use to assess mobility and locomotor performance in my elderly clients with balance issues,” Dr Ashley Katzenback, physical therapist and owner of Cape Concierge Physical Therapy, tells Fit&Well. In other words, how well and efficiently someone can move from one place to another. She says it’s a useful test to determine the risk of falls. “More specifically, it helps me to assess …