Fitness and Exercise - Safety & Injury Prevention

Is It Better to Work Out With Music?

A look at how music can impact athletic performance, with guidelines for safety (no earbuds on busy streets) and choosing the right tune.

Avoiding Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries are extremely common, and can be caused by everything from intense athletic training to sitting at a desk. Here's a look at how they occur and how to safeguard your body against them.

6 Ways to Keep it Clean at the Gym

Maintain Good Exercise Hygiene--and Your Health

Reap the Benefits Of Tai Chi

Explore tai chi (pronounced tie chee ), the exercise that combines breathing, meditation, movement, and strength.

Post-Workout Recovery: 4 Things You Should Do After Exercise

Sure, you cool down after you exercise. But there s more to recovery than walking at a slower pace. Here are the four components of an effective post-workout recovery.

In Bitter Cold, Be Alert for Signs of Hypothermia

It's important to be aware of how your body responds to the cold. Brave the cold without the bite of howling winds and low temperatures by keeping these expert tips in mind to prevent hypothermia.

9 Safety Tips for Skiing, Snowboarding, and Sledding

Snowy terrain brings wintertime fun for "kids" of all ages. Preschoolers as well as retirees can partake in skiing, snowboarding, and sledding, which are very safe activities when done correctly. Avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room by taking these precautions.

Got a Bad Back? Try Foundation Training

Foundation Training, a series of movements developed by a chiropractor, is an active approach that has helped many overcome back pain and get on with their lives.

6 DIY Massage Techniques

Relieve stress, reduce pain, and even improve your mood. If you lack the time or money to see a professional masseuse, here's how to reap the benefits of this therapy in the comfort of your own home.

Walking vs. Running: Which Is Better?

If you want to lose weight, running is the clear winner. But there are many benefits of walking, too. Here's the whole scoop.

Gear up for Warm Weather Workouts

When the temperatures rise, freshen up your workout by exercising in the fresh air. Here's how to maximize your efforts, and also stay safe, while breaking a sweat in the great outdoors.

Exercise Modifications Can Keep You Moving

Nearly any exercise can be modified to compensate for injuries, or even pregnancy. Here are some ideas.

Working Out? Work in a Rest Day

The key to exercise success? Rest. Learn why, plus get important tips for incorporating recovery into your fitness routine.

Daily Stretches to Help You Feel Your Best

Reducing the risk of injury is just one of the benefits of a good stretch. Read on for simple stretches to keep you flexible from head to toe.

Trend to Try? Functional Fitness

Is your workout working for you? Here are four moves to strengthen and stretch the muscles you use most.

Exercises to Cure Your Neck Pain

While some exercises can cause your neck pain, performing these may remedy it.

How Yoga Can Damage Your Body

While it's praised for its meditative approach to exercise, some experts are critical of the high incidence of injury.

6 Ways to Boost Bone Strength

Learn how to build strong bones and protect against osteoporosis.

Hidden Gym Danger Zone

The gym is great for improving health, but it can also be a danger zone. Some of the biggest safety issues happen right after your workout.

Have Diabetes-Related Complications? Exercises to Avoid

Fitness imparts a slew of health benefits, but if you re living with certain diabetes-related complications, some exercises could end up doing more harm than good. Here s how to navigate through the confusion and find a workout that works for you.

The Risks of Cold Weather Running

You don t need to shy away from running in freezing weather as long as you re properly prepared. Here's how to get ready and go.

Runner's Diarrhea: Why It Happens, How to Avoid It

For many long distance runners and other athletes, diarrhea is an unwanted workout buddy. It affects up to 80 percent of marathoners and other extreme athletes.

Full vs. Empty Stomach: Which is Better for Exercise?

Some experts say you'll burn more fat if you exercise on an empty stomach. Others assert your athletic performance will suffer if you don't fuel it with the right food. Who's right?

The Benefits and Risks of Barefoot Running

Why is the barefoot running movement gaining popularity? Is it simply a fad popularized by a few outspoken naturalists? Or is there science that backs a more natural approach to running?

Running Through Pain: When is it OK?

Forget about that famous "runner's high." Serious runners will tell you: running hurts, at least at first. If you can't run away from the pain, should you run through it?

Had a Heart Attack? Activities to Avoid

Exercise is the best medicine for almost everything that ails you, but what should you know to make sure you don't push yourself too far if you have heart disease?

Unlikely Source for Senior Fitness

Here's a new idea that just might be the best way for aging people to get fit.

5 Biggest Walking Pains Solved

If you've resolved to start walking more, be sure you don't walk right into injury or pain. Follow our tips to avoid everything from blisters to shin splints.

Shin Splints: Causes, Prevention, and Treatments

What can you do to treat this condition or prevent it from happening in the first place?

Stay Injury-Free During Home Workouts

Nothing's more convenient than working out at home. You throw down your mat, grab your weights, pop in a DVD and voila--you're exercising. For too many people, however, that workout DVD puts them on the fast track to injury. Here's how to protect yourself.