Is creatine safe for my teenage son?

Posted May 14, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: My son wants to play football, but he’s smaller than the other boys. Is it safe for him to take a nutritional supplement such as creatine to increase his muscle?

DEAR READER: Many teens, especially athletes, want to be bigger and stronger, and a fair number use creatine to do so. One study found that nearly 10 percent of high school boys have used it. Another study found that nearly half of college men have used it. Creatine is sold as a supplement, but it is found naturally in the body, mostly in muscle.

What are the health benefits of tai chi?

Posted February 20, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m getting older and need to find a new way to keep fit. I’ve heard that tai chi might be a good option. Can you tell me more about it and its health benefits?

DEAR READER: Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion.” I think it could just as well be called MEDICATION in motion. This mind-body practice appears to help treat or prevent many health problems. Tai chi is a low-impact, slow-motion exercise. As you practice it, you move fluidly through a series of motions. The motions are named for animal actions such as “white crane spreads its wings,” or for martial arts moves.

What is tennis elbow?

Posted February 01, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m an avid tennis player. Unfortunately I’ve developed tennis elbow. What can I do to treat this problem? And how can I make sure it won’t return?

DEAR READER: “Tennis elbow” is one of the many minor maladies of man that have not been studied as seriously as they should be.

So what is tennis elbow? Let’s start with a little anatomy. Hold your right arm out in front of you, with the palm up. Now with your left hand, grab underneath your right elbow. The fingers of your left hand should feel a hard, bony, round bump on the outer part of your right elbow. That’s where the pain is, right?

How much exercise do I need to stay healthy?

Posted January 26, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I just turned 40, and I have finally accepted that I need to make regular exercise part of my life. I’m in pretty good physical shape, if slightly overweight. How much exercise do I need to stay healthy and maybe drop a few pounds?

DEAR READER: It’s easier than you might think. It also depends on your goals. You’ve probably heard that regular exercise protects you against many of the major diseases. I’m talking about heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and even some cancers. When I tell my patients this, they often get a certain expression on their face that says, “Not this exercise-is-good-for-you stuff again.”

What are the benefits of using a pedometer?

Posted December 23, 2011

DEAR DOCTOR K: I try to take a walk every day, but I know I need to walk more if I want it to count as exercise. A friend suggested I buy a pedometer. What exactly is a pedometer, and do you think it’s useful?

DEAR READER: A pedometer can motivate you to exercise. Practically everyone knows that exercise is good for you. Many people have heard that brisk exercise for at least 30 minutes, at least five times a week, is a healthy goal. But there are three things many of my patients don’t know. You may not, either.

How can I stay motivated to exercise regularly?

Posted November 30, 2011

DEAR DOCTOR K: Every few months I start a new exercise program with the best of intentions. But before I know it, I’m back on my couch. How can I stay motivated?

DEAR READER: There are two ways to be motivated to exercise: to think about the good it will do for your future health, and to think of how good it will make you feel when you do it.

Is swimming in cold water healthy?

Posted October 18, 2011

DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m an 80-year-old man who spends summers on the coast of Maine. I love to swim in the ocean for 20 or 30 minutes each day. The water is cold (55 degrees F), but it doesn’t bother me. My real question is whether doing this is bad for my heart, because my heart rate is sometimes irregular. Are my cold-water swims OK?

DEAR READER: First of all, congratulations! Anyone who is 80 years old and is up to the challenge of a daily swim in the ocean deserves our admiration. You obviously have both courage and a zest for life.

Is running bad for your joints?

Posted October 07, 2011

DEAR DOCTOR K: I am in my mid-30s and like to run for exercise. The problem is that I have creaky knees. I haven’t experienced pain yet, but my husband thinks I’m wearing my knees out and that I’ll give myself arthritis. Is this possible? Should I give up on vigorous exercise?

DEAR READER: A lot of people — like your husband and like my father — think that our joints are like car tires. Which is to say, they believe using them wears them out, and the more you use them, the faster they’ll need to be replaced. While this may be true for tires, the same cannot be said for your joints.

Exercise and Fitness