AAN.com – Eating chocolate may lower your risk of having a stroke, according to an analysis of available research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in April 2010. Another study found that eating chocolate may lower the risk of death after suffering a stroke. The analysis involved reviewing three [...]

AAN.com – A simple test of reaction time may help determine whether athletes have sustained a concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) and when they are ready to play again, according to a study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in April 2010. “Research has shown that [...]

For many pregnant women, it’s inevitable. As their pregnancy progresses, tasks that involve the low back often get more difficult. It is harder to bend over, lift, sit or walk for long periods of time, and back pain increases. Treating back pain, and improving daily function relative to tasks that involve the low back is [...]

Heavy backpacks place a measurable strain on the spines of children, with heavier loads causing greater spinal strain and increased back pain, reports a study in the January 1, 2010 issue of Spine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans show compression of the spinal discs and spinal curvature caused by typical school backpack loads in children, [...]

Most people know that having a strong core is critical for optimal skiing performance. Olympic skiers like Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn and Sara Schleper work on developing strong core muscles all season long. Here Andrew Hooge, a certified personal trainer at the UNC Wellness Center and founder of FitSkiing.com, explains three simple exercises you can [...]

Exposure to air pollution accelerates the thickening of artery walls in humans that leads to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, according to researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). The study, funded across six components of the National Institutes of Health, was published recently in the journal PloS ONE. [...]