UC Davis Health molecular exercise physiologist Keith Baar specializes in sports medicine. He studies the effects of exercise on bone, muscle and tendon health. In this Q&A, he discusses how intensive exercising after injury or when overweight can cause damage to ligaments and tendons. He also talks about the importance of integrating isometric or static exercises into our fitness routines.
Shoulder symptoms led to an average of 9.6 million physician visits in 2015 and 2016 in the United States. The most common cause of those shoulder symptoms? Rotator-cuff disorders. Nonoperative treatment, such as physical therapy, is the typical approach to treating rotator-cuff tears. However, surgery is considered in certain patients whose rotator-cuff tears don't resolve with nonoperative treatments.
The inner or medial knee refers to the part closest to the other knee. Injuries and arthritis are two possible causes of inner knee pain. Treatment options depend on the cause and include warm or cold packs, exercise, and medication.
With spring on its way, you may be pulling out your golf clubs or tennis racket. If you try to mimic the perfect swing of golf pros or tennis champs without taking into account the limitations of your own body, you may be setting yourself up for injury. It's important to be aware of two inflammatory conditions: tennis elbow and golf elbow. Despite their names, these conditions can be diagnosed in anyone who engages in constant arm movements. They develop slowly over time from overuse.
Everyday physical activity, like going for a short walk or playing with the kids, may provide short-term benefits for cognitive health, equivalent to reversing four years of cognitive aging. That was a key finding for my colleagues and me in our new study, which was published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
