exercise
Youngsters Lack Exercise
According to a report in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine , many children are not
getting enough exercise - setting them up for heart disease,
cancer, diabetes and other conditions. This problem is
especially rampant in girls.
Researchers assessed the activity levels of 786 elementary school students,
aged 7 to 9 years, in Dublin. Findings revealed that 24% of girls and 14% of
boys engaged in less than the minimal level of activity recommended by health
agencies to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Findings also revealed that 60% of children spend up to 3 hours a day watching
television and 18% spend more than 3 hours a day "in front of the screen."
Hussey J, Gormley J, Bell C Physical
activity in Dublin children aged 7-9 years Br J Sports
Med 2001 (Aug); 35 (4): 268-272; discussion 273
Kids with Arthritis need Exercise
Children with juvenile arthritis (a form
of rheumatoid arthritis) benefit from exercise, according
to a University of Buffalo study presented yesterday at the
AmericanCollege of Rheumatology's annual meeting in Boston,
Massachusetts.
The ongoing study enrolled 11 children with juvenile arthritis
and 13 arthritis-free youngsters. Half of the children took
part in an eight-week resistance training regime, while half
served as controls. According to the report, children
with juvenile arthritis who exercised boosted their ability to function by
an average of 32% - and by as much as 200%. Exercise also reduced pain and
medication use - and increased strength and endurance.
V Velazquez, N M Fisher,
J T Venkatraman, K M O'Neil The effect of a lower extremity resistance
exercise rehabilitation program on tnfa and tnf receptors
in juvenile arthritis. The American College
of Rheumatology 63 rd annual scientific meeting- November
15, 1999