Fitness Research Made Simple

A few months ago I took a stack of magazines with me to the airport for a flight.  One was a women’s fitness magazine, which had a list of the “best” exercises for fitness.  I read it with a distinct eye roll and accompanying head shake.  So here we go again with the myth of what is best. There is media and there is research. Always be careful when you read about research in glossy print.
 
According to the research bite, running short sprints was better than long distances for fitness, however this is where the media screws up the research.  I am sure that is what the research reports, but I am also sure that the peer-reviewed article was not so simple in its conclusion that it could be expressed in less than a single sentence.  For example, doing just one or two sprints does not put me in the kind of shape I need to complete a half marathon.  A few sprints do not fit the recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise in a week.  Sprints are a great form of exercise, but before you commit to a short distance workout, revisit your goals.  Do you hate cardio and prefer to lift weights? Yes, maybe incorporating some sprints in between sets will get your heart some healthy benefits. Go for it!  But if your goal involves long, slow distance, you will need to put in the miles.
 
Another female in science jokingly posted a picture for a magazine that declared you are 8% stronger if you curse out loud.  Man, why didn’t I think of that study for my dissertation!  This conclusion was brightly placed in the middle of a page in Better Homes and Gardens, again leading to the misconception that you can swear your way to a better body (you can’t… but I do like the idea…).  What I did learn from investigating this subject: swearing increased pain tolerance and heart rate and decreased perceived pain compared to not swearing (http://www.mzellner.com/page4/files/2009-stephens.pdf).  I did find the research that I think Better Homes and Gardens is citing, but the conclusions were not as strong or as simple as expressed. In the research study the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) response was not deemed to be responsible for the increase in performance, and therefore they could not explain why it was happening. 
 
It is no wonder we are confused when the media reports research, as it seems that for every pro- article there is an equally effective con article.  A social science researcher actually found out that the majority of the research that goes public via the media is later proven to be not true.  So how do you know who or what to trust when doing your own research?  First of all consider the source.  If it sounds too good to be true, like simply swearing or doing a small bit of exercise, know that they have probably left out some additional information.  For those who want to be in the know, look for the primary article.  If you are incredibly curious, go ahead and read the abstract, as it should have some more information.  If you are incredibly ambitious, take the time to read the entire article and you will be surprised what you can learn.  Or ask one of us professionals.  I am always happy to share what I have learned!