Does Physical Activity Impact the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Women? The Women’s Injury Study (WIN)

While virtually everyone agrees that regular physical activity is good for you, musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) can sometimes result. Surprisingly little is known regarding MSI related to physical activity versus MSI which occur unrelated to physical activity. With this in mind, researchers from The Cooper Institute and the University of North Texas developed and reported on the Women’s Injury Study. Read on to learn more!...

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50 Years of the Cooper 12-Minute Run

Did you know that June 6 was National Running Day? There are many ways to measure cardiorespiratory fitness outside of a laboratory setting, but the most well-known and widely used method is the Cooper 12-Minute Run Test. As we approach our 50 year anniversary, let’s discuss the origin of the test, who uses it, and how it’s administered....

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognitive Function: What’s the Connection?

We’ve known for decades that regular physical activity is good for our cardiovascular system. More recent evidence points towards maintenance of good brain health as an additional benefit of PA. In a recent paper from the Cooper Clinic Longitudinal Study (CCLS), our researchers at The Cooper Institute examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in a sample of older Cooper Clinic patients. Read on to learn more!...

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Vitamin D and exercise may protect against age-associated loss of cognition

As the average life expectancy continues to rise in the U.S., there is an increasing need to identify modifiable risk factors that contribute to the cognitive and physical deterioration associated with aging. The Cooper Institute research team found that in generally healthy people, vitamin D and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly associated with cognitive function. Read more to learn what preventive measures you can take to protect from cognitive decline as you age....

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Framingham Heart Study shows that HDL Cholesterol Levels should not be interpreted in a Vacuum!

For nearly four decades, HDL cholesterol has been known as the ‘good cholesterol.’ Over the past few years, researchers have been trying to determine whether or not HDL by itself is protective against heart disease, or if it’s just the fact that high HDL levels are often seen individuals who are physically fit and/or do not have many risk factors for heart disease. Read on to learn more!...

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Congratulations to the 2018 Healthy Zone School Award Winners!

On Thursday, May 10, a special dinner was held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, honoring this year’s Healthy Zone Schools and award winners. Read more...

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Can Just a Little Bit of Resistance Training Help to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a very common condition that significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It has long been known that aerobic activity can be very helpful in the prevention of MetSyn. Much less is known about how much resistance training is necessary to prevent this harmful condition. Read on to learn more!...

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Asthma and Depression: the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study (CCLS)

Asthma and depression each affect about 10% of the overall U.S. population. The prevalence of asthma is somewhat higher among youth than adults. While some U.S. studies have shown an association between asthma and depression, the data is based mostly on self-report rather than objective clinical measurements of these conditions. A recent study on Cooper Clinic patients explored this important topic. Read on to learn more!...

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels among Female Cancer Survivors: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is related to an increased risk of certain cancers in women. Breast cancer survivors have significantly lower levels of CRF than women with no history of cancer. Much less is known about the CRF levels of women who have gynecologic cancers (cervical, endometrial/uterine, and ovarian). In this blog, we look at a recent publication from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study regarding this important topic, as well as its implications....

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International Youth Fitness Assessment: The Cooper Institute Leading the Way

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Thus, it is appropriate to focus attention on assessment of physical fitness, not only in the USA but across the globe. The 13th Measurement & Evaluation Symposium was conducted at the 2018 SHAPE America Annual meeting in Nashville TN. The Symposium, sponsored by The Cooper Institute, focused on “Youth Fitness Assessment in the 21st Century: Issues, Challenges, & Future Directions.” Read more on how The Cooper Institute has lead the way on physical fitness assessment in children and youth....

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Can Having Diabetes Increase Your Risk of Falling?

Rates of diabetes mellitus (DM) have been skyrocketing worldwide over the past 3 decades. DM carries with it many serious health risks; one of which is neuropathy (nerve damage). In this blog, we discuss how neuropathy can lead to a significantly increased risk of falling. Read on to learn more!...

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Can Older Adults Walk Their Way to a Lower Risk of Premature Death?

The majority of older adults do not meet current public health guidelines for physical activity. Walking represents a form of physical activity that is free, does not require specific training, and can be done almost anywhere. However, very few studies have examined the relationship between walking and mortality risk in older adults. Read on to learn about a large study performed by the American Cancer Society on this important topic!...

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