ACTIVE CARE

Short of an emergency phone call, there’s few worse ways to be awakened in the middle of the night than a muscle cramp.  When it happens, someone usually offers the sage advice of eating bananas and drinking water.  But are you really dehydrated and electrolyte deficient in the middle of the night?  We owe this... Read More »

Chances are if you work, go to school or are around kids there’s always someone sniffling, sneezing or coughing.  Of course, all you’re trying to do is avoid getting the cold, flu or stomach virus your self.  But is hand sanitizing, incessant hand washing and kicking open doors like an ER doctor really the only... Read More »

If you’re looking for answers on whether to eat before or after exercise to promote weight loss, research on the topic may leave you more confused.  That’s because a commonly cited article seemingly recommended fasting before exercise, leading to a rash of other articles and blogs using the research as evidence that exercising before eating... Read More »

The fitness community has a well-established love affair with the latest and trendiest exercise programs. Remember Tae-Bo and Billy Blanks? Jazzercise and Jane Fonda? Spin and Johnny G? Yet despite the hype, these fitness programs and their famous, chiseled originators eventually faded into anonymity. However, despite our short attention span with exercise programs, CrossFit believers... Read More »

We may be all born to run, but are we all born to run well, fleet of foot and without injury?  Running is an immensely popular fitness activity and for good reason.  It offers efficient exercise and it can usually be done anywhere or anytime, with only the most basic of equipment.  But this simplicity... Read More »

It’s that time of year that we resolve to start fresh and eat better, workout more, play less iPhone Candy Crush and generally remake everything.  Unfortunately, too often those resolutions don’t make it past Groundhog Day.  Research shows that about 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions but only about 8% actually achieve them. But... Read More »

Have you been a subject of foot discrimination?  Relegated to the “supportive” section of the shoe store?  Those who over-pronate or have “flat feet” have suffered from an injury prejudice that has stemmed from the belief that this foot type predisposes one to a variety of orthopedic problems.  It has been deemed such a structural... Read More »

The Olympics give us a fascinating look at the physical and athletic qualities of individuals who have achieved the top level of sport.  But how did these athletes reach that level of athletic performance?  One popular book has advocated the theory that excellence in any sport or activity requires 10,000 hours of practice.  But how... Read More »

In our pursuit of optimal performance, every facet of physiology, nutrition and equipment has been scientifically evaluated and updated.  We have satellites tracking our speed, heart rate monitors to record intensity and a shoe industry that is constantly in search of innovation.  How did Roger Bannister ever break the 4-minute mile without Nikes and a... Read More »

For parents and sports medicine professionals, youth sports present a complex riddle.  On one hand, participation in youth sports counteracts the worldwide rise in childhood obesity while on the other; youth sports injuries can cause both short and long term health problems.  How much is too much? Participation in youth sports continues to become increasingly... Read More »