Sports « Weekly Gravy

A spirited game of ping pong may be more than just fun: New research suggests it could quell symptoms in Parkinson’s patients. The small study found that patients with the movement disorder had significant improvements in a wide range of symptoms after taking part in a six-month ping pong exercise program. “Ping pong, which is also called table tennis, is a form of aerobic exercise that has been shown in the general population to improve hand-eye coordination, sharpen reflexes and stimulate the brain,” said Dr. Ken-ichi Inoue, from Fukuoka University in Japan. “We wanted to examine if people with Parkinson’s disease would see similar benefits that may in turn reduce some of their symptoms,” Inoue explained. The study included 12 patients, average age 73, who had mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease and had been diagnosed with the disease for an average of seven years. The patients were assessed for symptoms and symptom severity, and then they played ping pong once a week for six months. During each weekly five-hour session, they did stretching exercises followed by ping pong with instruction from an experienced player. The program was developed by experienced ping pong players in the university’s department of sports science, specifically for Parkinson’s disease patients. Three and six months after they started the ping pong program, the patients had significant improvements in speech, handwriting, getting… read on >

Walking on America’s streets is getting ever more dangerous, a new report shows. Based on data from the first six months of 2019, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) predicts there were 6,590 pedestrian deaths that year, which would be a 5% increase over the 6,227 pedestrian deaths in 2018. The 2019 figure is the highest number of such deaths in more than 30 years, according to the association. “In the past 10 years, the number of pedestrian fatalities on our nation’s roadways has increased by more than 50%,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “This alarming trend signifies that we need to consider all the factors involved in this rise, identify the high-risk areas, allocate resources where they’re needed most, and continue to work with local law enforcement partners to address the chronic driver violations that contribute to pedestrian crashes,” Adkins said in an association news release. Pedestrians are projected to account for 17% of all traffic deaths in 2019, compared to 12% in 2009, according to the GHSA’s annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report, released Thursday. While there’s been a significant increase in pedestrian deaths over the past decade, the number of all other traffic deaths increased by only 2%. Overall, traffic deaths in the first half of 2019 are projected to be 3.4% lower than in the first half of 2018, according… read on >

Love to cross-country ski? Well, all those days spent striding across the snow-covered wilderness may do more than keep you in great physical shape. Swedish researchers report that very fit long-distance skiers were about 30% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease during their 20-year study. The research suggests that any activity that keeps you fit might buffer the brain against disease. “Our study highlights the importance of staying physically active throughout life, in order to have a reserve to better cope when the frailties and diseases of old age inevitably arrive,” said study senior author Tomas Deierborg. He’s an associate professor in neuroscience at Lund University in Sweden. Deierborg said the researchers believe these very fit athletes have built up a greater “motor reserve” that slows any brain damage from Parkinson’s disease. He said it’s similar to the idea of “cognitive reserve” in people with dementia that suggests someone who is well-educated can sustain more brain damage from dementia before symptoms of the disorder become obvious. However, not everyone is convinced that motor reserve is playing a role in this study’s findings. Dr. Michael Okun, national medical director for the Parkinson’s Foundation, said, “There’s definite agreement among experts that exercise has positive effects on Parkinson’s disease and many positive effects beyond Parkinson’s disease. But it’s wishful thinking for us to assume that long-distance skiers have… read on >

Getting your surly teens off the couch might trigger a long-term turnaround in their moods, new research suggests. “Our findings show that young people who are inactive for large proportions of the day throughout adolescence face a greater risk of depression by age 18,” said study author Aaron Kandola, a psychiatry Ph.D. student at University College London (UCL). “We found that it’s not just more intense forms of activity that are good for our mental health, but any degree of physical activity that can reduce the time we spend sitting down is likely to be beneficial,” he explained in a university news release. “We should be encouraging people of all ages to move more and to sit less, as it’s good for both our physical and mental health,” Kandola added. In the study, more than 4,200 participants in England wore devices that tracked their movement for at least 10 hours over at least three days when they were ages 12, 14 and 16. They also completed questionnaires to assess depressive symptoms such as sadness, loss of pleasure and poor concentration. Every additional 60 minutes of inactivity a day at age 12, 14 and 16 was associated with an increase in depression scores of 11%, 8% and 10.5%, respectively, by age 18. Those with high levels of inactivity at all three ages had just over 28%… read on >

While working out might boost your health and mood, it also might cause your skin to break out. But don’t kick your New Year’s resolutions to the curb just yet, because dermatologists say that exercise-induced acne can be prevented. Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology explained that hitting the gym can cause oil, dirt and bacteria to build up on your skin and lead to acne. Practicing good hygiene before, during and after your workouts is the key to keeping your skin glowing, the doctors advised. “While exercise itself doesn’t cause acne, the skin care habits you maintain around your workouts can significantly impact your skin,” said dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand. “Since germs thrive at the gym, it’s important to maintain good hygiene while working out to prevent clogged pores and the spread of harmful bacteria.” To keep your skin acne-free after exercising, Houshmand recommends: Choose clean, loose-fitting clothes that don’t rub against your skin. Take any makeup off before working out. Apply sunscreen on exposed skin when exercising outside. Pat sweat off your body with a towel during your workout. Clean shared equipment before using it. Shower with warm water immediately after working out. Change into clean clothes after showering. “Keep in mind that acne can have many causes, including genetics, hormones, stress and medications,” Houshmand said in an academy news release.… read on >

Your Super Bowl party this Sunday may leave you feeling beat on Monday morning, a new survey finds. A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that nearly 40% of U.S. adults are more tired than usual the day after the Super Bowl. “It’s easy to stay up too late after enjoying a night of football, food and friends,” said academy President Dr. Kelly Carden. “”To get the sleep you need after the Super Bowl, it is recommended that you plan ahead and prioritize your bedtime on Sunday night to avoid a tired day at work on Monday,” Carden said in an academy news release. Here’s a post-Super Bowl sleep plan: Don’t eat or drink after halftime. Heavy eating and drinking can make it hard to sleep. Turn the TV and other electronic devices off after the game. Don’t stay up for postgame commentary on social media. Take time to unwind. Make bedtime a priority. You need at least seven hours of sleep to feel your best in the morning, so don’t go to bed too late. More information For more on getting a good night’s sleep, see the National Sleep Foundation.

(HealthDay News) — From texting to cooking, we use our hands often. There are many exercises that can strengthen your hands and fingers, increase your range of motion and provide relief, says Keck Medicine. It mentions five exercises to improve flexibility, dexterity and strength: Squeeze a soft ball in your palm as hard as you can for a few seconds. Repeat ten times. Make a gentle fist and wrap your thumb across your fingers. Hold for one minute, release and repeat. Warm up before exercise. Use a heating pad or soak hands in warm water for five-to-10 minutes. Place your hand flat on a table. Gently lift each finger at a time off the table. Hold for a few seconds and lower the finger. Stretch your wrists for 15-to-30 seconds. Repeat two-to-four times.

(HealthDay News) — Training too hard or too fast is the culprit behind many exercise-related injuries, says BetterHealth. Before working out, consult with a doctor, gym instructor or coach on how to exercise safely. BetterHealth mentions these warning signs that you should immediately stop exercising: Discomfort or pain. Chest pain or other pain that could indicate a heart attack. Significant breathlessness. A very rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Going to the gym is supposed to improve your health, but it can also be a hotbed of cold and flu bugs, an expert warns. “The biggest thing about the gym is there are a lot of areas where germs, viruses and fungus can be year-round,” said Bryan Combs, a nurse practitioner in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Nursing. Handlebars on elliptical machines, treadmills, stationary bicycles and weight machines are among the dirtiest places in gyms. “Even if the handlebars are cleaned regularly, handlebars are going to be covered in bacteria,” said Combs, who added that you should clean the machines before and after each time you use them. “You need to use wipes or a disinfectant spray to wipe down the machines or weights before and after,” Combs said in a university news release. “Once you clean the equipment, hang your towel on an area that you know is clean. When you get done, clean it again for the next person.” Towels are another potential problem. “While the towels have been washed, a lot of gyms use the same container to carry dirty towels to the washing area and then use the same one to bring clean towels back, so they can become contaminated again,” Combs said. Bring your own clean towel to the gym and wash your towel after each… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that often occurs in people who wear damp socks or tight shoes, says Mayo Clinic. The infection is contagious and is spread by contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. To help prevent athlete’s foot, the clinic suggests: Keep your feet dry, especially between your toes. Change socks regularly. Wear light, well-ventilated shoes. Alternate pairs of shoes. Protect your feet in public places. Treat your feet with antifungal powder. Don’t share shoes.