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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Longer Lower Legs =
More Efficient Running

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Allyson Rosen

Section: News & Results, Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

running stride beginners pace jogging jogger runner People who have longer lower leg lengths (the distance from knee to ankle) will usually have greater endurance during running or walking than those with shorter lower leg lengths.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin showed that people with longer lower legs use less energy when they run (Journal of Human Evolution, August 2007).

In a previous paper in the same journal, these authors showed that people with longer lower legs are better able to prevent heat build-up, which slows you down and makes you tired. When you exercise, almost 80 percent of the energy that you use to power your muscles is lost as heat.
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Exercise Prolongs Life

Posted October 21st, 2006 at 11:30 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise

older exercise.jpg Dr. Todd Manini of the National Institute on Aging reports that:

“Higher levels of activity energy expenditure and physical activity were associated with a lower risk of death. ”

“Compared with the third of individuals with the lowest activity energy expenditure, those in the highest third had a 69 percent lower risk of death.” (JAMA, June 2006).

This study was far more dependable than previous studies because, instead of using a questionnaire, researchers measured how active a person was by measuring the metabolic end products of activity. They used a doubly-labeled water method that directly measures carbon dioxide production over an extended period, the most accurate estimate of energy expenditure.

If you are inactive, you should check with a cardiologist who will do a stress test. If you pass, you should start an exercise program. If you fail, you should work with your doctor to correct the problem and then start an exercise program. Read the rest of this entry »

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