Related story: Lucky in recovery.

According to a recent study published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, group yoga can be beneficial to people who have had strokes, helping them to continue improving their balance after their formal rehabilitative care has ended.

"For people with chronic stroke, something like yoga in a group environment is cost-effective and appears to improve motor function and balance," said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Arlene Schmid, a rehabilitation research scientist at Roudebush Veterans Administration-Medical Center and Indiana University.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Depending on the severity of it and what part of the brain is affected, patients can suffer temporary or permanent disabilities that include a loss of balance and coordination among other impairments.

Typically, natural and acute rehabilitation ends after six months or a year, Schmid said. But the brain can still change - in ways a medical facility would no longer be measuring or treating once the patient is discharged.

"The problem is the health-care system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change," she said.

In what one local doctor called a Cadillac type of scenario, a patient who has suffered a stroke - depending on its severity - will receive in-patient care at the hospital for a month, then be discharged and get out-patient treatment for several more months, "but it's very rare to be in therapy more than four or six months."

A stroke patient needs to continue some sort of regimen, if not to further rehabilitation then to maintain any gains that are made, said Dr. John Carment, an assistant professor of geriatrics at the OU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa.

Last year, Carment partnered with the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Center to look at what impact yoga, tai chi and strength training had on older adults. The study, which included groups of 20 to 30 healthy people, found both tai chi and yoga improved the balance of the participants, but strength training had no real effect, Carment explained.

So it wouldn't be far-fetched to think tai chi and yoga would have the same effect on stroke victims, he said. Although neither are proven, he said, they would be beneficial.

Link:
Study: Group yoga can benefit people who have had strokes

ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2012) Specialised group yoga classes could provide a cost-effective way of treating patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain, according to the UK's largest ever study of the benefits of yoga.

Led by the University of York, and funded by Arthritis Research UK, the study provides an evaluation of a specially-developed 12-week group yoga intervention programme compared to conventional general practitioner (GP) care alone.

The results published in Spine, show that the yoga intervention programme -- 'Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs' -- is likely to be cost effective for both the UK National Health Service (NHS) and wider society.

The cost assumed for yoga intervention is important in determining whether this is an efficient use of NHS resources. As yoga classes are not currently available through the NHS, the researchers examined a range of possible costs. They conclude that if the NHS was to offer specialist yoga and managed to maintain the cost below 300 per patient (for a cycle of 12 classes), there is a high probability (around 70 per cent) of the yoga intervention being cost effective.

Researchers also found that those taking part in the yoga programme had far fewer days off work than those in the control group. On average, a control group participant reported 12 days off due to back pain, whereas those in the yoga group had four days off. The cost associated with taking time off was 1,202 for a control group member, compared with 374 for a yoga group member.

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of York's Department of Health Sciences and the Centre for Health Economics, and the Hull York Medical School.

Chief Investigator Professor David Torgerson, Director of York Trials Unit, in the University of York's Department of Health Sciences, said: "Back pain represents a significant burden to the NHS in the UK and to society as a whole. As well as the associated health care costs, it is also a major cause of work absenteeism which leads to a productivity loss to society.

"While yoga has been shown as an effective intervention for treating chronic and low back pain, until now there has been little evidence on its cost effectiveness. In our study we evaluated a specially-designed yoga class package by using individual-level data from a multi-centred randomized controlled trial. On the basis of the 12-month trial, we conclude that 12 weekly group classes of specialised yoga are likely to provide a cost-effective intervention for the treatment of patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain."

Back pain is estimated to cost the NHS 1.37 billion and the health care sector 2.10 billion a year. It is also one of the most common conditions treated in primary care in the UK with about 2.6 million people seeking advice from their GP about back pain each year.

Professor Alan Silman, Medical Director of Arthritis Research UK, said: "We welcome the fact that not only has yoga been found to help people manage their back pain, but that it is also cost effective, and results in fewer sick days. It is another option for people who are struggling to manage their condition, and one that encourages the move to self-management. Yoga is an intervention that has been proven to make their everyday lives easier and their pain more manageable.

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Yoga: a cost-effective treatment for back pain sufferers?

Bobbie Goulding is hoping that life really does begin at 40! After six long months on the sidelines, the former Great Britain scrum-half is desperate for a return to rugby leagues professional ranks.

Bobbie feels he has been the outsider looking in for far too long. He is hungry to resume a career in coaching and seeks an opening.

He has already thrown his hat into the ring for jobs at Oldham, Dewsbury and London.

Goulding feels he is now at an age where he can put something back into the game he loves and made his mark at the very top.

All I need is a chance, says Goulding. In my view, there are far too many overseas coaches in our game and thats not right.

I have confidence in my own ability. I know I can put a club on track and soon send them in the right direction. I certainly have the experience.

I feel we have far too many schoolteachers and men from similar professions now holding down key coaching jobs and thats also wrong.

To win at this game you dont need an expert knowledge of physics or mathematics you need to have been at the coal face and done it.

I have and I have a team in place who are ready to go alongside me.

Maybe it is more than coincidence to see Featherstone, Halifax and Sheffield going so well right now in the Championship with three former GB players in charge.

Continued here:
Just give me a shot: Bobbie Goulding eyes coaching role

Men's Health: tops the men's paid-for lifestyle sector with a circulation of 216,336

The two free distribution titles, Shortlist and Sport, continue to power ahead in terms of sheer numbers, at 529,010 and 305,676 copies a week respectively, in the six months to the end of June 2012.

The top paid-for title in the sector continues to be Hearst Rodale's Men's Health, with a circulation of 216,336 (down 2.2% on the period), indicating consumers' love of specialist fitness titles is here to stay and that they are now mainstream titles.

Alun Williams, group publishing director of Men's Health, said; "We are not a specialist health title. We have a lot more to offer. We have travel, sport and other content. We are a healthy lifestyle title."

Dennis' rival Men's Fitness is a smaller title, but also performed well in the period, up 5.6% to 65,201.

Simon Caney, the editor of Sport magazine, said: "In Sport, we don't do much fitness because Men's Health is doing so well, and we don't want it to be just a token thing."

Zoo and Nuts, meanwhile, continue to suffer a torrid time.

Nuts, which only four years ago was selling more than 230,00 a week, now has a circulation of just 90,314 a week, down more than 20% on the year.

While Nuts' publishers will point to the brand's digital offshoots, they must be concerned about the long-term survival of the printed title.

Nuts publisher Jo Smalley, said: "Print does play a significant part of our overall reach, but it's not the whole Nuts brand story."

View original post here:
MAGAZINE ABCs: Men's Health and Men's Fitness lead lifestyle charge

NEW YORK (BankingMyWay) -- Talk to any financial adviser about how to save for retirement and you'll get two instructions: save as much as you can, and focus on asset allocation -- your portfolio's diversification between stocks, bonds and cash.

But a new academic study finds this to be misplaced emphasis. Advisers should be preaching the bigger, more dependable benefits of working longer, trimming spending and planning on using a reverse mortgage, the research suggests.

Get alerts before Link and Cramer make every trade

On the plus side, this means many people have more control over their financial fate than they think, because they're less dependent on the whims of the stock market and can rely a bit more on safe holdings like bank savings that make it easier to sleep at night. The downside, of course, is that spending less and working to 70 isn't so appealing.

A careful look at asset allocation tools

Where to keep a rainy day fund.

Using home equity in retirement. Follow TheStreet on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

See the original post here:
Road to Retirement Shouldn't Be Paved With Stocks

The individually designed units in New Zealand's first large retirement village were pretty comfortable.

The sunny units at Parkwood, about an hour from Wellington, ranged from 70 to 110 sq m, then about the average size for a new house, with a decent-sized master bedroom and guest room. It was the early 1970s so nobody expected ensuites or wifi for their iPads. That was then.

When the newest units were built about fifteen years ago the standard floor was 142 sq m with some units reaching 160 sq m. Older units were being puffed up with ensuites and open showers and walls were being knocked out for open plan living areas.

"There is the odd bath floating around because that is what people want but they'll be whipped out as soon as the next person comes," says manager Mark Rouse.

He mentions the new shared swimming pool, the gym, and the popular yoga classes. "At some point in the future I would expect wifi in our social centre."

If Parkwood, a charity, feels the need to upgrade, the pressure is greater on stock-market-listed retirement villages such as Summerset, Ryman and Metlifecare. New developments have barely paused for breath during years of widespread slump for ordinary residential construction.

"Ryman is the fourth biggest residential builder in the country," says John Collyns of the Retirement Villages Association. "We are signing up new villages every two or three weeks."

Statistics NZ began tracking new retirement units in 2009 after it noticed an upwards surge. Since then developers have built almost 2,000 new units worth a combined $263 million. Half of them were built in the last year, says Collyns. Forget students. In some months, every new apartment built in New Zealand was for retirees.

"The whole social area of a village is undergoing quite a substantial re-think," says Collyns.

"Restaurants and cafes are now very common, and libraries and computer rooms and decent cinemas are quite standard in the new villages."

See the original post here:
Retirement villages go cool

SYDNEY, August 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, is proud to announce the launch of Performance Enhancement & Health - a new international, peer-reviewed journal that critically explores the health implications of performance enhancement on the human being, from steroid doping in elite athletes, right through to amphetamine use amongst truck drivers.

Performance Enhancement & Health boasts a wide-ranging appeal that extends from social scientists through to healthcare workers and, of course, those working in physical or sporting fields. As a multidisciplinary journal it provides fascinating food for thought. With the 2012 Olympic Games only just ended, the debate continues over performance enhancement in sport.

Performance enhancement is not only unique to athletes however. Performance enhancement can be pharmacological, genetic, psychological or technological and may be linked to identity, social capital or pleasure, as well as productivity. Health is envisaged broadly as absence of disease, optimal functioning, and (personal or community) well-being. Performance Enhancement & Health therefore examines the implications of performance enhancement on the human condition - both in the sporting arena and beyond

The journal's co-editors, Dr Jason Mazanov of the University of New South Wales and Associate Professor Frances Quirk of James Cook University, identified the need for a specific forum for scholars to discuss the role and impact of performance enhancement in society.

Mazanov and Quirk's aims in producing Performance Enhancement & Health include exploring how the effort to enhance our human condition has influenced health, and developing a more worldly understanding of the performance enhancement-health nexus.

The first two issues of Performance Enhancement & Health (published in the remainder of 2012) are freely available. In 2013, the journal, consisting of 4 issues, can be ordered online at http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/725634/bibliographic

For more information or to submit and article, go to: Performance Enhancement & Health.

The first articles to be published in the journal are now available on ScienceDirect.

About the Co-Editors-in-Chief

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Elsevier Launches New Journal: Performance Enhancement & Health

Written by TSN The Sports Network

(Sports Network) - Veteran right-hander Jason Marquis can keep a personal run of success alive against a former team tonight, when the San Diego Padres head back to Turner Field to close out a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

Marquis, who turns 34 next week, was a supplemental draft choice of the Braves in 1996 and was with them for his first four seasons in the big leagues - going 14-15 from 2000 through 2003.

He's since pitched with seven more teams and won as many as 15 games with St. Louis in 2004 and Colorado in 2009.

The Manhasset, N.Y. native began 2012 with Minnesota and won twice in seven appearances, but was granted free agency in May and signed the following day with the Padres, for whom he's made 13 starts and has won five of his last six.

The most recent outing on Aug. 11 yielded his best performance of the season, a complete-game gem at Pittsburgh in which he allowed two hits, walked one and struck out four in a 5-0 downing of the Pirates.

Marquis is 3-4 lifetime against the Braves with a 7.27 earned run average in 43 1/3 innings.

He'll be opposed by reliever-turned-starter Kris Medlen, who'll begin his fourth straight game after entering from the bullpen 38 times.

The 26-year-old from California was 1-1 with a save and a 2.48 ERA before his initial start of the season on July 31, which ended in a 7-1 defeat of Miami in which Medlen allowed four hits and a run in five innings.

He allowed a single run in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Houston in start No. 2, then picked up another win on Aug. 11 at New York when he limited the Mets to a run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-3 defeat of the Mets.

Read more here:
Padres wrap up set at Turner Field

16/08/2012 11:25, Report by A Marshall, A O'Connor

Robin van Persie has enjoyed personal success against United in the past, even though many of his goals have been in vain for Arsenal.

Things started well enough when he came on as a substitute in the Gunners' 2004 Community Shield win, helping his new team to a 3-1victory with all the goals coming in the second half. After all he picked up in a Carling Cup defeat at Old Trafford was a yellow card, the striker again left the bench to convert a penalty in the FA Cup final shoot-out success against the Reds at the end of that firstseason.

Following a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in 2006, he scored in two of the nextthree games against the Reds but each ended in defeat - including the Champions League semi-final second leg in 2009. A goalless draw at the Theatre of Dreams led to United clinching the title later that campaign and three defeats followed in all competitions before he was part of the Arsenal side that won 1-0 in 2011 thanks to an Aaron Ramsey goal.

Of course, he netted in both games against United last term - in the 8-2 thumping, when also having a penalty saved by David De Gea, and the 2-1 triumph for Sir Alex's team at the Emirates Stadium in January.

Check out MUTV's exclusivevideo featuring van Persie in action against the Reds.

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Robin's Reds best

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire -08/16/12)- Martian Watches, an Irvine, California-based developer of unique personal wireless communication solutions, announced today it is introducing, through the Kickstarter funding platform, a next-generation Bluetooth smart watch that allows users clear two-way voice communication through their watch and hands-free use of their smartphone's voice commands.

The stylish Martian-branded "voice command watch" will allow Android and iPhone users to talk, listen, be notified of incoming calls and texts, answer, reply, and initiate voice commands, all without their phones leaving their pocket or purse.

Those who want to see and hear Martian in action may visit http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/martianwatches. Early adopters may pre-order watches and help fund production.

"To make a watch truly smart you have to give it a voice, literally. We've done just that with Martian," said Jeffrey Hsieh, CEO of Martian Watches. "Imagine being on a ski slope and a friend calls to see what time you want to meet for lunch. With Martian, you can see who is calling, answer the call, agree on a time, and hang up -- all without taking off your gloves and digging your phone out of a zippered pocket."

Placing the Power of Communication on Your Wrist

Martian offers a host of features that both complement and enhance your smartphone experience, including:

Three Styles at Launch to Fit Your Fancy

Martian Watches will be available in 3 styles -- Passport, a classic, professional style; Victory, a larger, bolder design; or G2G, which comes in 4 vibrant colors plus white. All of the watches will have the same internal componentry, functionality, 2+-hour talk time, and always-on analog watch face that will run for up to 30 days on a single charge.

The Passport, Victory and G2G Watches also include an OLED caller ID display, vibration motor, and LED light to provide incoming call, text and event notifications. An integrated magnetometer and 3-axis accelerometer allow for future app development. The expected retail price will range from $179 to $229, but for a limited time can be pre-ordered on Kickstarter at nearly half off of these prices.

More details and technical specifications can be found at http://www.martianwatches.com.

Original post:
New Kickstarter Project Takes the Smart Watch to the Next Level With Hands-Free Voice Communication