https://medicalxpress.com/fitness-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Fitness & Physical Activity Young people who vape or smoke cigarettes have reduced blood vessel function, breathing efficiency and exercise capacity compared with those who have never smoked or vaped, according to a study published in ERJ Open Research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-vaping-young-people.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:00:04 EDT news703140766 World Cup fever has America in its grip as the international soccer tournament grinds steadily toward the final. But a new study highlights a darker side to the sport: the toll soccer can take on the brains of professional players. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-pro-soccer-players-brains.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:40:01 EDT news703143831 New research from the University of Mississippi indicates that athletes with ADHD need even more scrutiny when head injuries are involved. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-athletes-adhd-higher-concussion-longer.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:40:01 EDT news703166930 Evidence that beetroot juice can improve athletic performance has long been inconsistent. While some studies reported benefits, others found little or no effect. Now, a new study combining results from 33 studies provides the clearest evidence yet that it can enhance exercise performance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-beetroot-juice-boost-sports-latest.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:00:09 EDT news703165262 Soccer players who are pregnant or have recently given birth can kick off the season with more confidence, using a new FIFA tool developed in collaboration with a University of Alberta researcher. Two decision aids, one for playing during pregnancy and one for returning to the game postpartum, have been launched by FIFA, an international governing body for the sport. Both are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-moms-game-fifa-pregnant-partum.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:20:01 EDT news703156107 Skeletal muscles—responsible for movement, joint stabilization and postural support—are highly metabolically active and heavily reliant on oxygen during physical activity. However, conditions such as high-intensity exercise or sustained exertion frequently expose skeletal muscles to reduced oxygen availability, which can compromise muscle homeostasis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-mouse-uncovers-transcription-factors-hif1.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:20:04 EDT news703143850 The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has published a new call to action statement urging the sports medicine community to intentionally incorporate social determinants of health (SDoH) into research, clinical care, and administrative and organizational decision-making to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-greater-focus-social-factors-health.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:20:01 EDT news702823721 A football player standing over a penalty in a hot, high-altitude stadium is dealing with more than pressure. His body is trying to keep cool. His heart and breathing may be working harder. Less oxygen is reaching his muscles. One poor decision can end his team's World Cup. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-world-cup-football-fatigue-extreme.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:00:01 EDT news702820981 A feature News and Perspectives story on AI fitness advice has been published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.. In "Should AI Be Your Personal Trainer?", JMIR Correspondent Anna Zucker covers the growing use of AI chatbots for personal fitness programs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ai-based-personal.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:40:05 EDT news702814716 When former All Black Sonny Bill Williams spoke from hospital before his recent neck surgery, his message was not simply about pain. It was a warning to young athletes and their parents about the physical price that can come with a professional sporting career. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-elite-athletes-health-impacts.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:20:06 EDT news702810721 Could the smell of chocolate wafting through the gym make strength training easier, or at least more pleasant? A new Frontiers in Physiology study found that sniffing dark chocolate with a high cocoa content decreased feelings of hunger, desire and intention to eat, and left trainees feeling fuller. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-dark-chocolate-leg-workout-easier.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:01 EDT news702711172 A multicenter clinical trial led by UTHealth Houston has found that survivors of aortic dissection can participate in moderate-intensity exercise at home without increasing the risk of recurrent aortic events. The study is published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-moderate-home-based-safe-aortic.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:20:01 EDT news702747928 According to a study that analyzed the behavior of 1,500 São Paulo residents between 2014 and 2024, the implementation of new bike lanes, parks and other public facilities in the Brazilian city has encouraged transportation-related physical activity and promoted public health benefits. The researchers found that the presence of bike lanes within 500 meters (about 550 yards) of residents' homes was a key factor in keeping them active and encouraging cycling. The study is published in the Journal of Transport & Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-paulo-brazil-expansion-bike-lanes.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:40:07 EDT news702745987 People with severe obesity who exercise regularly have healthier blood vessels and lower inflammation than those who rely on medication alone, a new study from the University of Copenhagen shows. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-weight-loss-cardiovascular-health-medication.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:20:04 EDT news702724331 A targeted training program can help young female soccer players avoid torn knees and other injuries, a new study says. Girls who play soccer have a higher risk of leg and ankle injuries than boys, due to differences in strength and balance, researchers said in background notes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ward-injuries-soccer-girls.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:00:10 EDT news702724340 Sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time is linked to a higher risk of dying from cancer, while breaking up long sitting spells with light activity appeared to lower that risk, according to new data. But media reports on the study left many questions unanswered. Here's what you need to know. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-linked-higher-death-cancer.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:40:05 EDT news702649381 Fatigue can be a daily challenge for children with developmental disabilities, affecting participation in school, play and other activities. In a new study by Virginia Tech researchers from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, parents reported that children who were more physically active tended to experience less fatigue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-physical-ease-fatigue-children-developmental.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:40:09 EDT news702648181 In 1981, a researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine named William Fitzgerald noticed something strange—his blood pressure was lower after going for a jog. This anecdotal observation launched a robust investigation into this phenomenon, which would later be identified as post-exercise hypotension (PEH). One of the leaders in this field is College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) researcher and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of kinesiology Linda Pescatello. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-story-hypotension.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:20:06 EDT news702645661 Peptide may not yet be the 2026 Oxford Word of the Year, but it must surely be in the running. From your friendly neighborhood influencer to the gym bros, injectable peptides have been all over social media and are now making mainstream news when things go horribly wrong. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-peptides.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:20:05 EDT news702639125 People who sit at a desk for most of the day know the importance of taking a break, but new University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research has determined exactly how often they should get up and move around. The study found taking a short walking break every 20 minutes leads to the greatest reduction in blood sugar and insulin. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-movement-health.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:40:04 EDT news702630061 Many people in the U.K. now use apps, smartwatches or wearable devices to track their physical activity. Fitness trackers promise to help users become fitter, happier and healthier versions of themselves. For many people, they can be useful: a nudge to move more, a way to notice patterns, or a reminder that activity does not have to happen in a gym. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-hidden-pitfalls-tracking.html Sat, 04 Jul 2026 13:00:07 EDT news702210033 As pro cycling teams have been preparing for the start of the Tour de France on Saturday, extreme heat has rolled across Western Europe, smashing temperature records, cracking infrastructure and taking a toll on the population. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-experts-advice-events-excessive.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:00:01 EDT news702286232 Nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented by tackling modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, low education or social isolation, but new Curtin University research suggests current public health approaches are falling short in driving real behavior change. The major international review published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that while large-scale health awareness campaigns for dementia prevention can reach wide audiences, they often lead to only small improvements in knowledge and limited changes in behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-dementia-cases.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:40:01 EDT news702210346 Male runners may be twice as likely as female runners to suddenly slow down—known as "hitting the wall"—during a marathon, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that men may be able to reduce this risk by starting races more slowly and speeding up throughout the race. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-men-slower-wall-marathons.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:40:04 EDT news702221101 Each additional hour of prolonged, uninterrupted sedentary behavior in a person's day is associated with a 9% higher risk of cancer death, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine by Frederick Ho of the University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-bouts-linked-cancer.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:02 EDT news702204481 As summer heat intensifies across the U.S., the American Heart Association is warning that soaring temperatures don't just make people uncomfortable—they can put serious strain on the heart and increase the risk of life-threatening complications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-extreme-heart.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:40:04 EDT news702202741 A pack-a-day smoker can spend around $14,000 a year on cigarettes, yet despite the financial and health costs, quitting remains one of the most difficult changes many people will ever attempt. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-boosts.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:00:01 EDT news702189901 A large-scale analysis by an international research team, led by Bochum University of Applied Sciences, shows that nonsurgical treatments such as massage, exercise therapy or acupuncture for chronic back pain can alleviate symptoms—but usually only for a few weeks. Clinically significant improvements do not persist in the long term. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-treatments-chronic-pain-short-term.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:20:08 EDT news702128500 Yoga can be seen as an accessible way to exercise and improve well-being. You don't always need a gym membership, specialist machinery or other people to do it. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-nhs-patients-socially-yoga-ready.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:00:08 EDT news702126002 Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the fitness industry: People can now ask chatbots to write marathon plans, build gym programs and even adjust workouts based on sleep or heart rate data. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ai-personal-trainer-pocket-safe.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:20:03 EDT news702124381