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Research and Studies

The American Council on Exercise is dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective health and fitness products, programs and trends. ACE accomplishes this through ongoing extensive research and studies in all areas of health and fitness, as well as public education regarding scientifically sound health and fitness practices. Dubbed the "workout watchdog" by The Wall Street Journal in 1997, ACE has established a reputation as a consumer advocate. Since 1995, ACE has enlisted the expertise of top researchers at major universities across the country to conduct studies on fitness products and trends. In some cases, these studies have prompted the Federal Trade Commission to take action against several companies making false claims.

ACE Research Study - Wii Fit — Or Just A Wee Bit?

Wii Fit – Or Just a Wee Bit?

Since its launch in late 2007, the Wii Fit has sold well over 21 million units and, at the time of this research, was the third best-selling video game of all time. These stats are encouraging, given the well-publicized epidemic of childhood obesity in our country and the fact that obesity and its complications cause as many as 300,000 premature deaths each year.

Sure the Wii Fit exer-game is beneficial compared to a sedentary lifestyle, but just how good? ACE tests the effectiveness of this popular product from Nintendo that focuses on strength training, aerobics, yoga and balance games performed using a small white balance board.

 

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Dance the Calories Away - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Dance the Calories Away

The PC-based exer-game, Dancetown, encourages older adults and those in retirement communities to follow onscreen dance step cues on a wired dance pad while the computer records their accuracy. But does it really produce the exercise intensity to be beneficial?

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Drop and Give Me 20! - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Drop and Give Me 20!

The boot-camp trend is still going strong perhaps because it’s not really trendy at all. The workout is simple, goes back to basics, is not tied to a single piece of equipment and uses a motivating team-oriented atmosphere. Discover the fitness benefits of popular boot camp style workouts in this unique ACE study.

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The Perfect Push-up - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

The Perfect Push-up

As seen on TV! Created by a former U.S. Navy SEAL, see if the Perfect Push-up by BodyRev lives up to its claims of maximizing the effectiveness of this basic exercise with better results in less time.

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The Wii: As Good as the Real Thing? - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

The Wii: As Good as the Real Thing?

In the fall of 2006, a new video game system called the Nintendo Wii hit the streets and quickly became an instant hit with a full-fledged craze, selling more than 11 million consoles in the Americas alone. But is the exercise you get through the exer-gaming system as good as the real thing?

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Wellness on Wheels - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Wellness on Wheels

With a recent study showing that mothers of young children are less likely to get even the minimum amount of exercise they need to stay healthy compared to women of a similar age without kids, ACE studies the calorie burn and body benefits of walking with a baby stroller. Just how good is this workout?

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Function Follows Fitness - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Function Follows Fitness

Many fitness professionals have been promoting functional fitness programs as a way for older adults to remain active and independent as they age. But how beneficial is this form of exercise and how quickly can benefits be reaped?

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Human Joysticks - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Human Joysticks

Could a videogame be the secret to making our kids more fit and less fat? First introduced in Japan in 1998, see how this dance videogame commonly known as DDR measures up as ACE tests its efficacy in this university-based research study.

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Do You 10k a Day? - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Do You 10K a Day?

Given that society spends at least half of our waking hours on the job, ACE turns to the workplace to examine the physical activity of 10 common job occupations. How much of a workday workout are you getting? From teachers and police officers, to nurses and receptionists, see how you measure up.

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Mind Over Body - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Mind Over Body

A new ACE sponsored study measured what happens when athletes think they're getting an extra boost in the form of "super-oxygenated" water. Can the mind trick the body into performing better?

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Glutes to the Max - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Glutes to the Max

Gluteus maximus, rear end, tush, gluteals, butt, rump, “the sit” muscles, bottom, buttocks, boo-tay. Nothing really seems to roll off the tongue. But for better or worse, it’s one of the biggest reasons people exercise. So what are the most effective exercises for the glutes?

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Can Pilates Do it All - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Can Pilates Do it All

Pilates is still one of the hottest trends in fitness with its long list of benefits including improved body mechanics, balance, coordination, strength and flexibility. But is it enough to keep you aerobically fit?

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Does Yoga Really Do the Body Good? - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

Does Yoga Really Do the Body Good?

Exercise enthusiasts are flocking to yoga studios in hopes of reaping the benefits of improved mind-body connection, improved muscle tone and strength, better balance and increased flexibility. But just how beneficial is the 5,000 year old practice of Hatha yoga?

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ACE Puts Curves to the Test - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

ACE Puts Curves to the Test

Between its inception in 1992 and the time of this research study, more than four million women joined the 30-minute circuit-training gyms, Curves. The fastest growing franchise in U.S. history, women love it, but does their popular circuit workout really work?

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New Study Puts the Crunch on Ineffective Ab Exercises - ACE Exercise, Health and Fitness Reasearch and Study

New Study Puts the Crunch on Ineffective Ab Exercises

In recent years, a host of infomercial products and exercise videos have preyed on people’s desire for a toned mid-section. But what is the best, most efficient route to tighter abs? We look at 13 of the most common ab exercises, ranking them from best to worst.

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Cedric X. Bryant’s Response to the Time Magazine Article

Cedric Bryant, Ph.D, ACE's Chief Science Officer, responds to Time Magazine's recent article "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin"

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Recent Research & Studies Published by Other Organizations

Exercise Reduces Fatigue In Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Supervised exercise programs that include high and low intense cardiovascular and resistance training can help reduce fatigue in patients with cancer who are undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy or treatment for advanced disease. The exercise training also improves patients' vitality, muscular strength, aerobic capacity and emotional well-being, according to new research.

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Exercise Therapy Best For Knee Pain, Study Finds

For patients with severe knee pain, supervised exercise therapy is more effective at reducing pain and improving function than usual care, a study finds.

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Exercise Can Aid Recovery After Brain Radiation

Exercise is a key factor in improving both memory and mood after whole-brain radiation treatments in rodents, according to new research.

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Improved Diet And Exercise Alone Unlikely To Cure Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Obese Patients

A study finds that while a strict diet and exercise program may benefit obese patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, it is unlikely to eliminate the condition.

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'Beneficial' Effects Of Alcohol? Researchers Urge Caution On Recent Results, Suggest Life-Style Factors Real Source

According a new study of over 3,000 adults aged 70-79, the apparent association between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and reduced risk of functional decline over time did not hold up after adjustments were made for characteristics related to lifestyle, in particular physical activity, body weight, education and income.

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For Kidney Disease Patients, Staying Active Might Mean Staying Alive

Getting off the couch could lead to a longer life for kidney disease patients, according to a new study. The findings indicate that, as in the general population, exercise has significant health benefits for individuals with kidney dysfunction.

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Supervised Strength Training Is More Effective, Swedish Study Finds

Half of all Swedish elite volleyball players suffer at least one injury per season. One important reason may be that most players perform injury-preventing strength training unsupervised.

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Exercise Improves Body Image For Fit And Unfit Alike

Attention weekend warriors: the simple act of exercise and not fitness itself can convince you that you look better, a new study finds.

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A Simple Way For Older Adults To Assess Arterial Stiffness: Reach For The Toes

How far you can reach beyond your toes from a sitting position -- normally used to define the flexibility of the body -- may be an indicator of how stiff your arteries are. Because arterial stiffness often precedes cardiovascular disease, the results suggest that this could become a quick measure of a person's risk for heart attack or stroke.

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Women's Soccer: Get Fit While Having Fun

New research shows that women benefit more from playing recreational soccer than from running when it comes to overall fitness. And that's not all: women playing soccer experience a higher degree of motivation when it comes to sticking to their sport, and they increase their ability to bridge and create new acquaintances.

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