FitBits
December 31, 2003

Exercise ETC's Review of Exercise Related Research.
Compiled by
Irv Rubenstein, Ph D, CSCS

Coming January 15:
New “Jumbo” Correspondence Programs

Exercise ETC is pleased to announce 5 new “jumbo” correspondence programs that will be available January 15. These “jumbo” programs will allow you to earn between .6/6.0 and 2.2/22 CEs for a single home study program, and each includes either a softbound textbook or a CD-ROM. These new programs offer a convenient, cost effective way to earn the bulk of your CEs from one source, and are a perfect complement to the increased CE requirements mandated by many of the most prestigious certifications. These programs are approved by ACE, AIFE, ISSA, WITS and many others; they include:

• Effective Strength Training (textbook) 2.2/22.0 CEs
• Facilitated Stretching (textbook) 1.6/16.0 CEs
• Functional Training for the Older Adult (CD-ROM) 0.9/9.0 CEs
• Adv Exercises for Shoulders, Abs & Knees (CD-ROM) 0.6/6.0 CEs
• Strength Training Anatomy (textbook) 1.0/10.0 CEs

For details, call us at
1-800-244-1344 or
visit our web site at
www.exerciseetc.com

Desperate for New Music? Check This Out!

If you are looking for a new music source, look no further! “32Mixes” offers excellent aerobic, spinning and group exercise mixes to certified instructors at very reasonable prices. What’s more, all mixes feature original songs and artists. For details, call John or Jenn at 1-888-32-MIXES or e-mail John at: johnsines@mindspring.com

Exercise ETC Switches to FedEx for Parcel Delivery

Effective January 1, 2004, Exercise ETC will begin utilizing FedEx Ground Service for delivery of all parcels. Director of Marketing Eric Goldman is enthusiastic about the switch, citing FedEx’s cost effectiveness, speed, efficiency and superior customer service, as well as the ability to track packages 24 hours per day.

For more information on Exercise ETC,
our programs and materials, visit our
web site at
www.exerciseetc.com

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Childhood Activity May Prevent Adolescent Obesity

With the rapidly rising rate of childhood and adolescent obesity and its consequent health problems, physical activity in youth is considered one of the primary determinants on future health status. This group studied a subset of the data from the Framingham Children’s Study to address the protective effect of exercise.

Using 8 years of data on childhood activity as well as repeated skinfold measurements, 103 children were assessed on the affect of activity on body fat changes from preschool to early adolescence. Children from ages 4-11 in the highest activity group had the smallest gains in body mass index throughout childhood. This was true for both genders. This supports the idea that childhood physical activity may protect against adolescent, and perhaps adult, fat accumulation.

Commentary: Hours of TV, computer time, and other sedentary behaviors make it difficult to get enough physical activity to counter the effects of these sedentary behaviors. Physical activity cuts into these kinds of sedentary habits; this study shows increases in activity should begin earlier, not later, in life.

L.L. Moore et al. Does early physical activity predict body fat change throughout childhood? Preventive Medicine 37(1): 10-17, July 2003

Tai Chi May Prevent
Falling in Older Adults

Studies have shown that long-term exercise improves knee angle repositioning skills: The ability to reproduce a given knee angle either passively or actively has been shown to be 50% worse in older adults than younger adults. Older adults who have fallen demonstrate reduced proprioception in knee extension replication tests, since limb proprioception diminishes with age, disuse, and injury. This study compared elderly Tai Chi students to comparable aged non-practitioners on (1) knee joint proprioception, (2) body sway while standing upright, and (3) weight shifting.

Tai Chi practitioners had 50% fewer errors in repositioning the knee angle in a seated position. With eyes open, both groups had similar body sway while standing upright, but when the eyes were closed, the Tai Chi group had less anterior-posterior sway. There was a strong correlation between knee proprioception and reaction times. Those with better proprioception had quicker reactions and better control over their base of support. This has been shown to be a predictor of reduced falls in elderly subjects.

Commentary: Young and old alike practice Tai Chi in China. That it has demonstrated musculoskeletal benefits is undeniable; this study shows that it may also prove to be valuable in reducing the risk for falls in older adults.

W.W.N. Tsang & C.W.Y. Uh-Chan, Effects of Tai Chi on joint proprioception and stability limits in elderly subject. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 35(12): 1962-1971, 2003

For more information on Exercise ETC, our programs and materials, visit our web site at
www.exerciseetc.com

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