Pam Moore

Since the pandemic started, items including yeast, puzzles and electric bikes have been flying off the shelves. According to an industry report, after consistent sales increases throughout the spring, June e-bike sales nearly tripled compared with 2019 sales. With all the elements of a traditional bicycle, plus a rechargeable battery and a motor, e-bikes make cycling more accessible by doing the heavy lifting for you.
According to Arleigh Greenwald, product marketing manager at Tern Bicycles ...

If you’ve never laughed out loud while pondering how to smash the patriarchy, you’ve probably never listened to Unladylike. Since 2018, co-hosts Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin have treated listeners to entertaining episodes exploring pop culture, health, beauty, politics, and more through a feminist lens.
The women behind the podcast are a mix of cool-aunt-meets-engaging-gender-studies-professor. And just like your favorite relatives and teachers, it’s obvious they care deeply about both y...

"I should have died or been paralyzed," says Gwen Buchanan. Despite our fuzzy Zoom connection, I see her get teary-eyed. The 50-year-old Mehoopany, Pa. physical therapist is referring to two accidents that nearly took her life. In total, she's been through rehab four times, once for each accident and again following separate bilateral hip surgeries. Though she recovered from her injuries, her accidents left her with pelvic imbalances that ultimately required joint replacements. Yet she never ...

4 Ways to Improve Uterine Fibroid Symptoms Without Surgery

You might have mixed feelings if your doctor tells you that you have a genetic disease like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). On one hand, you’re probably relieved to finally have a diagnosis, one that could have been a long time coming. You can stop wondering about why you’ve never really been that athletic or why your balance seems to be deteriorating lately. Mystery solved.
On the other hand, there’s trepidation. SMA type 4? Never heard of it, let alone know anyone else with it. What will the...

Have you been easily fatigued for most of your life? Do you wonder how people around you keep their balance so effortless when you have to work so hard sometimes to keep from falling? Are you more of a sports fan than a participant because you get so winded so quickly?
For many people, these symptoms are nothing more than the genetic luck of the draw. But for others, they could be signs of a lifelong congenital condition. They could be signs of spinal muscular atrophy type 4.
Spinal muscular ...

In 2018, the federal government put SMA on the national recommended newborn screening panel. As newborn testing grows more widespread, we should expect to see a significant drop in the number of people affected by the disease. According to Thomas Crawford, MD, co-director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic and Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University, “We can now identify the genetic defect at birth before the kids show any weakness and start [treatment], and effectively prevent this disease from occurring.

You don’t need a gym membership, equipment or even a big chunk of time to reap the rewards of exercise. In fact, you can squeeze some of the best moves for your body into a busy workday. The key is remembering that “all movement counts,” says NiCole Keith, president of the American College of Sports Medicine and kinesiology professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Here are three simple exercises you can easily add to any workday—without cutting too much into your calend...

If you took up hiking during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Data from the Outdoor Industry Association indicates that of all the outdoor activities that spiked in popularity between 2019 and 2020, hiking saw the sharpest rise.
If winter’s chilly temperatures and short days are keeping you away from the trails, don’t sweat it. The offseason is an excellent time to work on developing the mental fortitude, endurance, strength and flexibility to hit the trails running (well, hiking) once the ice...

If you’re considering hiring a personal trainer in the new year, the coronavirus doesn’t need to be an obstacle. Many trainers are offering virtual services; all you need to book a session are a WiFi connection and a way to pay digitally.
But there is one problem: “Anyone can say they’re a personal trainer,” says Francis Neric, the national director of certification for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Even the title “certified personal trainer” isn’t necessarily a stamp of qua...

If your motivation to exercise during the pandemic is as elusive as flour and antibacterial wipes, that’s not surprising — and you’re not alone. “It’s totally fine and totally normal to have your motivation wane,” says Steve Magness, a Houston-based running coach who has seen athletes at all levels lose initiative as the pandemic wears on. Here’s why you may be feeling this way and what you can do about it.

“One of the best things to keep people motivated is staying in a routine. You take tha...

If the idea of exercising for cardiovascular health makes you think of spin class, it’s time to shift that thinking. In addition to traditional “cardio” regimens such as biking, running and high-intensity interval training, there is another kind of workout that benefits your heart: strength training.

Although the primary benefits of strength training have been seen as musculoskeletal, and it has been especially recommended for older adults to maintain bone mass and prevent falls and injury, n...

Before the coronavirus pandemic, I always smiled at other runners as we crossed paths. Now that we’re wearing masks, I rarely bother. And when I do, I have no idea whether the intended recipient even notices.

I never gave much thought to the momentary connections created by exchanging smiles with a stranger before the pandemic. Now I miss them, leading me to wonder: Does it matter whether I offer an unseen smile to someone I don’t know?

The short answer: Yes, because it can affect your emotio...

You had an argument with your partner, you’re attempting to focus on your third Zoom call in a row, and your back pain is acting up. Sound familiar? If you experience stress, you’re not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, more than 75 percent of Americans report physical or emotional symptoms of stress, including headache, feeling tired, or altered sleeping habits.
While the term stress might sound benign, it’s anything but—especially when everyday stress becomes chron...

Although being in quarantine undoubtedly has its downsides, for many, it presented an opportunity to establish a new fitness routine. Now the tough part: continuing such routines as we try to find normal footing in a post-quarantine era — although that era is looking more distant as cases continue to rise in some areas of the country.

Before we move on to tips for maintaining these new fitness levels, it helps to understand one of the reasons some people have been able to adopt healthier habits during quarantine.

According to Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” all habits in