A recent New York Times article examines the impact of exercise on the retinal integrity of the eye. Yes, the study was conducted on mice, and yes, the lucky ones were forced to run at a mice pace on a tiny treadmill!  The more misfortunate group was confined to a dim cage with no opportunity for exercise.  And the results show (tada!) that the moving mice had far less retinal deterioration than those that were sedentary.  So how does that impact the human population as we continue our lifespanning journey?  One thing to consider is that age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the #1 cause of blindness for those over 60  in the developed world.   ARMD is a progressive disease of the retina, leading to central vision loss. Currently, more than 11 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and face varying degrees of disability and impaired quality of life due to vision impairment.  Risk factors include family history, hypertension, high fat intake, hypercholesteremia, advanced age and smoking.  And women have a higher incidence of the disorder than do men. 
Would you be surprised to hear that loss of vision ranks # 1 when Americans were asked which situation they feared most?  As reported by Lighthouse International, a non-profit dedicated to combating vision loss, this fear can be reduced by having a yearly comprehensive eye exam and adopting healthy wellness behaviors, including proper weight, healthy levels of blood pressure and blood lipids, and yes, EXERCISE!!!   If you need one more reason to commit yourself to a fitness and wellness regimen, this may be the motivational message for you!  And if you need assistance to put together a program due to residual functional limitations of injury or illness, EnCORE Fitness & Wellness is here to help!

Check out the New York Times Article here:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/exercising-for-eye-health/?_php=true&_&ref=health&_r=0

After a great weather weekend, it's easy to get ecstatic about the end of winter and start of SPRING!  Even the name makes you feel like jumping, right?  Well, even for those of us who keep active in the winter with outdoor winter sports ( XC and alpine skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, skating, etc) and indoor fitness can get sidelined if we are overly aggressive about pursuing our warmer weather passions.  And for those who decided to claim watching the Winter Olympics as a fitness activity for February, this blog is for you!  At this time of year and mindset, it is prudent to remember the basic parameters of any fitness activity, which are frequency, intensity, and time.  But I will add one more for good measure - specificity!!  So when starting your spring training schedule, keep in mind that that if you did not pursue that activity in the winter with a similar degree of frequency, intensity and time (the duration of the workout), it is in your body and spirit's best interest to gradually build up to the level you had at the end of Daylight Savings Time in 2013 (when was that anyway??)   And always remember that exercise is specific - you may use the same muscles when you play tennis or volleyball, or when you ski or run, but you are using them in different ways, specific to the proprioception that helps you achieve mastery of that activity!  Your body will thank you (and your wallet as well) when you avoid injury and end up a the doctor's or physical therapist, and your spirit for all those spring and summer activities will remain undampened!  So ease into this new season after this last cold front passes through.  And share your passion for fitness with everyone - we can all help everyone to get excited about the arrival of spring.