Fitness & Exercise - Statistical Data Included

Bike BOOK

If bicycle racing is your passion, check out John Wilcockson's World of Cycling (VeloPress, $24.95). Wilcockson, editor of VeloNews, has been writing about cycling for more than 30 years and has compiled some of his past works into a 352-page book about the world of cycling. Each chapter details a different event: the major European multi-day races, World Cup single-day races, world championships and the Olympic Games. For more information, call (303) 440-0601.

CHROMIUM PICOLINATE

* Researchers have found chromium picolinate supplementation coupled with strength training does not result in significant alteration in body fat, lean body mass or total body weight. The research team, headed by Lance S. Walker, Ph.D., at the University of Oklahoma, conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial with 20 male NCAA Division I varsity wrestlers ages 18-23. For 14 weeks, participants were involved in a strength training and metabolic conditioning program and kept records of their food intake.

It is worth noting, however, that studies using non-athletic populations have produced conflicting conclusions and the research group recommends further testing.

All the News That's Fit

Stay up-to-date on exercise techniques and health-related information by reading the American college of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) Health & Fitness Journal. A past issue, for example, included a piece on dietary supplements that included the chemical composition of such additives as androst-enedione and creatine, as well as the possible effects associated with sustained use.

All stories, features and articles are authored by experts and peer-reviewed before publication.

ACSM's Health & fitness Journal is available by subscription only from Lippincott, Williams at (800) 486-5643.

Exercise & Pregnancy

A recent study shows vigorous exercise in pregnant women does not raise the risk of pre-term delivery and may actually lead to more timely births. When researchers at the Columbia School of Public Health followed 557 middle class prenatal women, they did not find a substantial difference in the pattern of delivery between non-exercisers and women who exercised at low to moderate levels (1,000 calories or less per week). However, heavier levels of exercise (more than 1,000 calories per week), appeared to reduce the risk of pre-term birth. It was also found that conditioned, heavy exercisers delivered faster than non-exercisers. Heavy exercise means three or more hours per week of aerobics or swimming, four or more hours of calisthenics or five or more hours of bicycling.

UCLA medical students can now take yoga for credit. It all began in 1997 when Dr. Richard Usatine, assistant dean of the UCLA Medical School, experienced back pain relief from yoga--something traditional medical treatments had failed to do. After a month or two of yoga, Dr. Usatine felt so much better that he asked his teacher, Larry Payne, Ph.D., to teach a trial yoga class to several of his second-year medical students. The class was a success and became the first for-credit yoga class offered to medical students in the United States in the fall of 1998.

"Medical students taking this course will personally experience an effective alternative treatment they can offer their patients for a variety of ailments, says Dr. Payne.

Dr. Payne, founder/director of the Samata Yoga Center in Los Angeles, California, also teaches yoga for stress reduction as part of corporate benefit programs and to museum staff members at the new billion-dollar Getty Center. He and Georg Feuestein, Ph.D., co-authored a newly released book, Yoga for Dummies (IDG Books Worldwide Inc., $19.99).

Dr. Payne can be reached at the Samata Yoga Center in Los Angeles, California, at (310) 306-8845 or via E-mail at samata@aol.com.

Effects of EFX

Recent studies suggest most people get a better workout than they realize on an Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer. As part of in-depth, ongoing research into the crosstrainer's aerobic benefits, Dr. Len Kravitz of the University of Mississippi Department of Exercise and Leisure Management monitored 10 men and women on the EFX Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer. According to Dr. Kravitz, the subjects' heart rates indicated that workouts were more intense than subjects had perceived. In other words, the exercisers didn't feel they were working as hard as they actually were. Precor, the maker of the EFX, feels this is due to the crosstrainer's smooth low-impact motion and its easiness to master rapidly. Researchers also found the kilocalorie expenditure on EFX was greater than leisure cycling at 9.4 mph and moderate intensity aerobic dancing, matching running an 11-5-minute mile and moderate intensity skiing.

Precor is introducing a new crosstrainer, the EFX546, that contains a host of new features including an increased range of 10-40 degrees on the CrossRamp (ramp incline) and a lighted display on the electronic console that shows the muscles being emphasized as the CrossRamp changes settings. For more information, call (800) 4-PRECOR; or visit their Web site at www.precor.com.

Knee Strength

Strengthening the quadricep muscles, which are responsible for stabilizing the knee joint, may improve symptoms of osteoarthritis, states the IHRSA Institute on Exercise and Health (IIEH).

According to a study conducted by the Indiana University School of Medicine, overweight women are especially at risk. Researchers found the women in the study group who developed osteoarthritis were heavier and had 18 percent less extensor strength than women who were osteoarthritis free. There was no such difference in men.

Given the knowledge of safe and effective exercise for the aging population, researchers stress quadricep strength can be increased by training, even in the elderly. "Muscle strength not only prevents instability and provides proper joint alignment, but also ensures normal performance in daily tasks such as standing up from a chair or climbing a step. Emphasis should be placed on strength-to-weight ratio as a strong indicator of physical fitness," says Massimo Massarini, M.D., a member of the IHRSA Institute on Exercise and Health.

America's Fitness Paradox

Most people want to exercise, but many are just too tired. It's a fitness paradox. To break free of this paradox, eat right and at the right time.

"Food is the key to breaking that cycle," advises Kristine Clark, Ph.D., R.D., director of sports nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. "The right foods, such as eggs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products can help fuel energy and give that extra push needed to get up and exercise."

Dr. Clark emphasizes not only eating the proper foods, but eating them at the correct time. A meal containing protein, carbohydrates, fat and nutrients eaten one to two hours before activity should provide optimal energy.

For a free brochure, Foods That Fuel: A Guide to Eating ]Our Way to Fitness, send an SASE to the American Egg Board, Department Q, Box 1214, Park Ridge, IL 60068.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group