In today?s news, we look at the new study where golfing outperformed walking or even Nordic walking (a full-body workout that involves walking with specialized poles) in terms of improving a number of crucial heart health metrics. Also, according to a troubling new report by the Health Action Council, millennials have higher rates of obesity and diabetes than previous generations do. Meanwhile, beginning on February 15, Walk With Ease workshops are being provided free of charge to clients by physical therapy students at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Northwest Regional Campus.

Study Shows That Golf is a Good Way for Older People to Exercise

Original Source: Golf Is Healthy Exercise for Seniors, Study Confirms

Want to age well? New research indicates golfing.

In the small study, golfing improved several critical heart health markers better than walking or Nordic walking (a full-body activity that uses specialized poles).

?The results of this study are aimed to encourage older persons to spend more time on the golf course and play by walking,? said study author Julia Kettinen, a PhD researcher at the Institute of Biomedicine/Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. Golf stimulates people to move, often without recognizing how far they’ve walked.

The study compared the heart health consequences of an 18-hole round of golf to 3.7 miles of Nordic walking or walking in 25 healthy golfers 65 or older. Researchers measured blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol. Heart monitors and fitness devices tracked distance, duration, speed, steps, and calories.

The study found that all three aerobic exercises improved heart health after one session, but golf was best.

Golf is a lower-intensity exercise than Nordic walking and walking, but an 18-hole game takes four hours and participants may travel six miles. Golfers burn more calories, lowering cholesterol and blood sugar.

Kettinen advised healthy older folks to walk golf to prevent cardiovascular problems and promote heart health.

Walking and Nordic walking are equally healthy, but golf isn’t for everyone.

?These age-appropriate aerobic workouts can be advised to healthy older persons as a way to enhance their physical health and prevent cardiovascular diseases, and can also serve as a therapy option for individuals who already have a cardiovascular disease,? she said.

The study was small, among other drawbacks. Researchers only included golfers. Most participants were unfamiliar with Nordic walking, which may have caused poor technique and reduced its effectiveness.

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine published the study online Feb. 6.

Dr. Andrew Murray, chief medical officer of the European Tour and Ryder Cup-Europe golf competitions, co-directs the Edinburgh Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Network in Scotland.

Murray, who was not involved in the study, claimed that golf had more health advantages than walking or Nordic walking.

He stated golf’s accessibility to all ages makes it a good medication. Golf can benefit people of all ages.

Golf improves mental health and socialization. Socializing reduces the risk of dementia.

Murray said research shows that those over 80 can enjoy golf for the first time.

Health experts suggest fitness can assist millennials’ troubling new trend

Original source: Health experts say physical fitness can help in an alarming new trend among millennials

According to a troubling new report by the Health Action Council, millennials have higher rates of obesity and diabetes than previous generations do.

Bronson Rotaru remarked, “I think it’s a really terrifying phrase or sentence to be told.

Bronson Rotaru, a personal trainer at Train Proper in Cleveland, is not the only one who is shocked by this information; Dr. Roy Buchinsky of University Hospitals also expressed disbelief at hearing it.

Dr. Roy Buchinsky, Executive Health Director at University Hospitals, stated, “I was rather astonished to learn that this was the pattern when I first saw that.

But Buchinsky claims that after looking more closely at the results, he could see why.

“With COVID, and undoubtedly other events earlier in relation to the Great Recession as well as the dot.com generation during the tech fall, this generation has sort of been exposed to a number of different events over the previous three years,” said Buchinsky.

According to Buchinsky, these occurrences and a lack of access to healthcare have increased stress, which has led to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors including poor diet and inactivity, which are revealed by the study.

The study’s findings are undoubtedly eye-opening, according to Buchinsky.

The tendency need not, according to health experts, continue.

“You need to start acting like you mean it. To genuinely take control of your own health, in other words,” Buchinsky added. Even though experts claim that getting into a routine for working out only takes getting outside and moving, when most think about doing so, they picture heavy lifting.

“Anyone would benefit from moving around a few days a week. The level of fitness that is desired should not be extremely high, according to Rotaru.

Additionally, Buchinsky advises establishing social connections, keeping a close eye on your diet, getting enough sleep, and developing a spiritual practice to lessen stress.

In addition to promoting lifestyle as medicine, Buchinsky emphasized that we also need to clear the way for individuals to get the care they need when they need it.

Free “Walk With Ease” Online Classes from UAMS Physical Therapy Students

Original source: UAMS Physical Therapy Students Offering Free ?Walk With Ease? Online Classes

Starting Feb. 15, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus physical therapy students are offering free Walk With Ease seminars. Certified group leaders lead weekly Zoom classes.

The Arthritis Foundation created Walk With Ease, an organized walking program that teaches participants how to safely incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. It helps arthritis sufferers control their pain and is suitable for non-arthritis sufferers who want to walk regularly.

?Research shows that walking is not only excellent for joints, but also helps enhance the heart, lungs, and bones,? said John Jefferson, Ph.D., faculty co-advisor and founding director of the UAMS Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Walking helps control weight, lowering the risk of knee arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Walk With Ease should work if you can stand for 10 minutes without pain.

The program lets people exercise at their own speed. The upgraded program offers weekly Zoom meetings with Walk With Ease certified group leaders and members. Weekly emails from group leaders will provide instruction and motivation to maximize the six-week trip.

?Participants will learn proper stretching and pain management strategies, as well as develop stamina and walking pace,? said Christopher Walter, DPT, Ph.D., assistant professor and Walk With Ease faculty co-advisor. ?The program may be customized so each user can design an exercise plan that meets their goals.?

Register for the six-week Walk With Ease course at https://healthprofessions.uams.edu/programs/physical-therapy/walk-with-ease-registration/. 

UAMS Department of Physical Therapy: 479-713-8600 or ptprogram@uams.edu.

Each day’s course has six sessions.

Meeting dates:

• Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., starting Feb. 15
• Thursdays at 4 p.m., starting Feb. 16
• Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., starting March 1
• Thursdays at 4 p.m., starting March 2
• Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., starting March 15
• Thursdays at 4 p.m., starting March 16

329 medical, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions students, 66 medical and pharmacy residents, and two sports medicine fellows attend UAMS Northwest Regional Campus. The campus contains nine clinics, including a student-led clinic, orthopaedics and sports medicine, physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Faculty research health disparities.

Summary of today?s physical health news

Overall, golfing improved numerous critical heart health markers better than walking or Nordic walking (a full-body activity that involves walking with poles). Golf is a lower-intensity exercise than Nordic walking and walking, but an 18-hole game takes four hours and can involve six miles of walking. Thus, golfers burn more calories and lower cholesterol and blood sugar. Golf boosts mental health and keeps people connected. Maintaining social relationships helps reduce dementia risk.

Furthermore, a worrying Health Action Council survey found millennials have more chronic health issues including diabetes and obesity than earlier generations. Buchinsky said, ?This generation has sort of been exposed to a number of different events over the last three years with COVID, and clearly other events earlier on in reference to the Great Recession and the dot.com generation during the tech fall. Buchinsky believes these occurrences and a lack of health care have increased stress, leading to harmful lifestyle patterns including bad eating and lack of exercise, as the study shows. Buchinsky suggests interacting with people, managing what you eat, getting enough rest, and finding spirituality to relieve stress.

Finally, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Northwest Regional Campus’s physical therapy students are giving Walk With Ease lessons for free starting Feb. 15. Weekly Zoom meetings with qualified group leaders conduct the classes. Walk With Ease, established by the Arthritis Foundation, is a systematic walking program that teaches participants how to properly include physical activity into their daily lives. It’s perfect for people without arthritis who wish to walk regularly and helps arthritis sufferers manage their discomfort.