ParticipACTION 150 Play List
Feeling blue during the winter months? Physical activity has been proven to increase the release of endorphins and reduce the amount of stress hormones (like cortisol) floating around the body. Instead of hibernating, check out the ParticipACTION 150 Play List for a detailed list of activities to try indoors or outdoors.
Rolling out the benefits of Foam Rollers
Foam rollers have become pretty mainstream over the last few years. Athletes swear by this piece of equipment to help keep muscles loose and limber, and to help in muscle recovery and increased performance. Every day fitness goers are also picking up this piece of equipment to help ease muscle soreness. So what is it…
Exercise Offers Protection against Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability among older people. Previously thought to have been the result of joints wearing out, this chronic degenerative joint disease is the outcome of a combination of different factors. Pain, inflammation, stiffness, muscle weakness, and joint instability are all symptoms of the disease and can impact daily quality of…
Exercise & Cancer
What if there was a free, easily accessible way to positively influence the survival rates of cancer patients and survivors? Research studying colon cancer patients and breast cancer survivors suggest there is. Learn more about the importance and the impact of exercise on cancer recurrence, and how simply walking regularly can promote survival.
The Truth about “Sitting Kills”
Between productivity losses and direct healthcare costs, the worldwide economic burden of physical inactivity was $67.5 billion in 2013. People aren’t moving enough and are sitting too much, contributing to what many call a global pandemic of physical inactivity. Results from studies in Western countries show that in general, people spend the majority of their…
The Implications of Screen Time for Young Children
In June, the Canadian Paediatric Society released new screen time guidelines for children under 5 years old. A child’s first experiences with screens can be habit-forming, with lasting implications. While there are potential benefits associated with mindful screen use among children, excessive screen time can present risks for development, psychosocial skills, and physical health. Parents…
Why Those Who Exercise Have a Good Head on Their Shoulders
Exercise doesn’t just improve physical health: it also benefits brain health through increased brain function and resistance to neurodegenerative diseases. One of the key players in this relationship is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). What is Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)? Neuroplasticity involves modifying the functions of neurons and the different connections within the nervous system. Being…
Fitness Trackers and Counting Steps: Marketing Ploy or Health Tool?
Fitness trackers have become increasingly popular among both people who are new to exercise, and those who have been long-time athletes. Current wrist-worn trackers can function as watches, heart rate monitors, sleep trackers, calorie counters, GPSs, and even as phones, opening up a market that seems inconceivably far from the original pedometer. However, the 10,…
Active Parks, Active People?
One of the top recommended strategies to increase physical activity is to increase public access to places where people can engage in physical activity. Installing free outdoor fitness equipment to create “active parks” is one way some cities have targeted increasing opportunities for adults and seniors to get fit. While there are many benefits to…
Mom and Me: Active Lifestyles Begin at Home!
A physically active lifestyle begins to develop early in childhood. Almost 31% of Canadian children and youth 5-19 years of age are overweight or obese and if the current trends continue, by 2040, 70% of 40-year-olds will be overweight or obese. The importance of physical activity at an early age does, however, give us an…