exercise

Ben Lecomte has swum across the Atlantic Ocean, and now he aims to traverse the Pacific, which will take him five or six months.

Can Extreme Exercise Hurt Your Heart? Swim The Pacific To Find Out

4:41pm February 01, 2016

by Lauren Silverman

Ben Lecomte wants to be the first person to swim across the Pacific Ocean — a 5,500-mile journey. Doctors will monitor his heart remotely to see how intensive exercise affects this vital muscle.

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Lower-back pain is one of the top three reasons that Americans go to the doctor. But the solution can be a DIY project.

Forget The Gizmos: Exercise Works Best For Lower-Back Pain

5:12pm January 11, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Ditch the strap-on belts and shoe inserts, and definitely don't rest. Accumulating research shows that the best way to treat and prevent lower-back pain is to get off the couch.

Four pregnant women sit in lotus position.

Say Yes To Down Dog: More Yoga Poses Are Safe During Pregnancy

3:44pm November 16, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

Moms-to-be who practice prenatal yoga say it reduces stress, anxiety and even pain. A study finds that even poses once thought to be off limits to pregnant women are safe.

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You don't have to get this fancy with a foam roller to gain benefits, researchers say.

Can You Really Roll Those Aches And Knots Away?

9:49am October 07, 2015

by Katherine Hobson

Scientists say you'll get better range of motion and less post-workout pain when using foam rollers to loosen tight muscles. But the details aren't all smoothed out.

Skydiving and vacuuming burn the same number of calories. So what'll it be, thrills or a clean carpet?

Sweeping Or Skydiving? When Counting Calories It's All The Same

6:29pm July 02, 2015

by Alyson Hurt

Sports can burn a lot of energy. But vacuuming the carpet burns calories, too. The question is, how much? We checked out the numbers and found surprises.

Take A Hike To Do Your Heart And Spirit Good

3:33pm June 24, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

For many Americans, an NPR poll suggests, walking is their most consistent exercise. But how much can a moderately paced walk really help your health?

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In the current version of the Fitnet App, the camera of an exerciser's smartphone captures data from him (upper left), while a prerecorded trainer guides him through a workout. A clock (bottom center) shows elapsed time. The orange dots (upper left) indic

Fitness App Aims To Deliver Live Feedback From A Personal Trainer 24/7

7:31am June 23, 2015

by Alison Bruzek

The Fitnet app uses your phone's camera to analyze your workout and give feedback. Next step is a live trainer on the other end. The hitch: Your Internet speed likely needs to be 40 times faster.

Ryo Ishikawa, one of Japan's biggest golf stars, demonstrates his swing on the pro tour in February.

Take A Swing At This: Golf Is Exercise, Cart Or No Cart

1:29pm June 17, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

American adults play more golf than any other sport. So how much exercise do you get from an afternoon on the links? Players clipped on pedometers and Fitbits to help us find out.

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Michelle Goldberg is a senior contributing writer for The Nation.

Those Yoga Poses May Not Be Ancient After All, And Maybe That's OK

2:02pm June 02, 2015

In her new book, Michelle Goldberg traces the Western practice of yoga to a Russian woman named Indra Devi. Goldberg says that many of the poses in modern yoga can't be traced beyond 150 years ago.

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In a FIT zone at Bell Street Park in East Palo Alto, Calif., friends from the neighborhood now gather regularly to play volleyball.

Can Volleyball Fight Crime? East Palo Alto Says, 'Game On'

2:01pm May 11, 2015

by Jeremy Raff

A California city with a crime problem — shootings, drug dealing and gang activity — finds that getting more kids and cops playing sports together regularly in the park can make a big difference.