Health & Wellness
It depends on what you need to do the exercise properly, say U of A experts in the second of our two-part series on stretching.
12
February
2019
Just as we were getting used to the idea of a dynamic, task-related movement to warm up before we exercise, it appears that stretching of any type will have a similar negative impact on performance.
“I’ve been around gyms long enough to witness the downfall of static stretching in the early 2000s, the dawn of dynamic stretching a decade later, and now the end of dynamic stretching as well,” said Loren Chiu, a University of Alberta biokinesiologist. “Who knows, maybe foam rollers are next.”
According to Chiu, neither static nor dynamic stretching has been shown to reduce, or increase, injury risk.
RELATED: Why static stretching may not be as effective as you think“Attributing any injury or lack thereof to stretching would not only be difficult, but, ethically, almost impossible to study,” he said.
Does stretching = w...Headlines
11
February
2019
Why static stretching may not be as effective as you think
Holding stretches can weaken muscles but may be worth it if you need the flexibility, say U of A experts in the first of our two-part series on stretching.
The thing about professional football that renowned health-fad skeptic Timothy Caulfield finds most incredible isn’t the feats of athleticism, the big hits or even the moments of grace that emerge …
08
February
2019
U of A’s popular ‘Surgery 101’ podcasts add children’s content
Kid-friendly educational series expands on medical podcasts that have generated 5.1 million downloads worldwide.
The University of Alberta’s Surgery 101—the free surgery podcasts that have garnered huge followings over the past 10 years—is aiming to spark career interest much earlier with its new podcast …
07
February
2019
Heart health messages for women may backfire, say U of A researchers
Information needs to be better tailored to women’s needs and circumstances to avoid making them feel guilty, study shows.
Messages meant to empower women with heart disease to live a healthier lifestyle may have the opposite effect, according to University of Alberta research.
“Women are told they need to exercise …
06
February
2019
Discovery may bolster chemotherapy potency while protecting the heart from side-effects
U of A medical researchers take significant step toward improving cancer care.
Researchers from the University of Alberta may have found a way to make chemotherapy more effective at treating cancer while blocking its harmful side-effects on the heart.
While chemotherapy can …
30
January
2019
Improved AI-based tool increases accuracy of schizophrenia diagnosis
U of A researchers use machine learning to identify schizophrenia from patient brain scans.
A tool developed by University of Alberta researchers using machine learning diagnoses schizophrenia more accurately than other AI-based systems, according to a new study.
The tool, called …
30
January
2019
U of A scientists first to pinpoint a cause of pigmentary glaucoma
Discovery identifies gene that causes common form of blindness worldwide, potentially leading to new treatment for glaucoma.
An international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for the onset of pigmentary glaucoma, which may lead to new therapies for the condition.
“People who traditionally we …
22
January
2019
Should children lift weights?
U of A biomechanist debunks myth that weightlifting is dangerous for kids and suggests it might be a necessary piece to combat an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.
Lifting weights is not the invitation to injury and developmental issues in young people that it was once thought to be—in fact, it might even be necessary in some cases, contends a University of …
17
January
2019
New U of A laser technology shows promise to treat leading causes of blindness
Nir Katchinskiy launches startup to bring new treatment technique to market.
A platform that combines cutting-edge diagnostic tools and ultra-fast laser technology developed at the University of Alberta could usher in a new era of non-invasive medical interventions for eye …
16
January
2019
Films look at therapeutic value of sentimental objects in seniors’ lives
“Objects hold memories and can link to past experiences, can remind a person and others of who they are.”
Many people have cherished items they hold dear—a grandmother’s ring or scarf, a teddy bear, even a song—but for the elderly, these objects are especially precious, and a new series of short films by …
15
January
2019
How runners handle fatigue could help cancer patients, study suggests
U of A researcher finds similarities between different groups who experience extreme fatigue.
Identifying variations in how populations prone to extreme fatigue experience it might hold the key to better management of exhaustion, especially in cancer patients, according to research out of the …
14
January
2019
Albertans getting plenty of sleep, but it’s not all good
Latest physical activity survey reveals screen time at bedtime and too much sitting affecting quality of sleep.
Albertans are getting enough sleep every night but the soundness of that sleep could be much better, according to the latest survey from the University of Alberta’s Centre for Active Living.
The …