New findings on imagery use: What do exercisers imagine during gym workouts and why

In this work, we present the design and implementation of a micro watt level power consumption, human body capacitance based sensor for recognizing and counting gym workouts. The concept also works when the device is attached to a body part which is not directly involved in the activity’s movement. In contrast, most of the widely used motion sensing based approaches require placing the sensor on the moving body part (e.g. for analyzing leg based gym exercises the sensor needs to be placed on the leg). We described the physical principle behind the ubiquitous electric coupling between human body and environment, and explored the capability of this sensing modality in gym workouts. We evaluated our sensor with 11 subjects, performing 7 popular gym workouts each day over 5 days with our sensor being placed at 3 different body positions, including a non-contact position, where the sensor is placed in the subject’s pocket. Results showed that our sensing approach achieved an average counting accuracy of 91%, which is highly competitive with commercial devices on the market. The mean leave one user out workout recognition f-scores obtained were of 63%, 56%, 45% for sensors located on wrist, on calf and in pocket, respectively. As every subject performed activities over multiple days changing shoe height, shoe and clothes type, we demonstrate that full body activity counting and to some extent recognition is feasible, regardless of personal habit of movement speed and scale.

We report six experimental and clinical studies conducted in several clinics around the world with a total of 407 multiracial subjects that examined the effects of an effortless exercise method, on visceral fat reduction, lipids profile, hormonal fluctuations, and muscle mass increase. The technology that acts as a virtual gym was invented in London University by the co-inventor of the first pacemaker. The first two within-subjects longitudinal experimental studies demonstrated a significant reduction in both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and a statistically significant increase of muscle mass on MRI scans. Additionally, there was a statistically significant increase in DHEA and T3. A statistically significant decrease in triglyceride serum levels was also noted. Two independent clinical studies revealed reduced body fat and increased muscle mass. One of these clinical studies also demonstrated increased BMR and bone density and decreased metabolic age, indicating an enhancement in the longevity quotient. When this effortless exercise (virtual gym) method was compared to gym workouts in a between-subjects design, it demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in terms of increased range and speed of motion on the goniometer results, metabolic boost and increased blood flow on the PET measurement. Cortisol Plasma levels and Cortisol Urinary Free levels decrease after effortless virtual gym. Exercise indicated that the stress associated with effortless exercise is significantly less than gym workouts. Time taken to run around the gym three times and time recorded to swim from one end of the pool lengthwise to the other, showed a significant advantage of fitness attained after the effortless virtual gym method, when compared to physical regular gym workouts. Moreover, effortless exercise demonstrated several advantages over the physical exercise gym workouts in terms of a reduction of body fat, inch loss, body shaping appearance, BMI reduction and evidenced a substantially greater muscle mass increase.

BACKGROUND: Although advanced coronary artery disease in young, healthy fighter pilots is uncommon, an acute cardiac event in flight could be catastrophic.CASE REPORT: After a gym workout, a 31-yr-old F-16 pilot reported severe central chest pain, one vomiting episode, and excessive sweating but no radiation of pain. Electrocardiograph showed ST elevation in V2-V6. Coronary arteriography showed a thrombotic lesion at the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery (90%) and one occluded LAD branch with thrombus; the rest of the arteries were normal and ejection fraction was 55%. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention to LAD with one drug-eluting stent was done. The pilot was discharged in stable hemodynamic condition with medication advice. Assessment revealed no significant cardiac risk factors. He did not seek medical care for two central chest pain episodes following a gym workout prior to this event because rest relieved the pain. He gave a history of using commercial protein supplements for bodybuilding in the past 6 yr.DISCUSSION: In this case report, the impact of aggressive gym workouts and chronic use of commercially available bodybuilding protein supplements on cardiovascular health is discussed, as well as aeromedical dilemmas related to this pilot's career. This case sparks debate about whether a highly motivated young pilot with an unexpected cardiac event should be subjected to regular intensive cardiac evaluation throughout his remaining flying career, with permanent flying limitations, or be motivated to pursue a career shift to facilitate noncomplicated career rehabilitation.Jeevarathinam S, Sabei SA, Wardi YA. Acute myocardial infarction in a young bodybuilder fighter pilot. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(9):719-722.

With the advancement in technology and the growing sedentary lifestyle, comorbidities related to obesity and overweight are also increasing. Every other person complains of weight gain and is looking for ways to reduce pounds on the scale. Most people have started working out at their homes instead of going out to the gym due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, while others have a proper routine of working out in the gym. Thus, our research study compares the effectiveness of home-based workout programs and gym workouts to analyze which type of workout will provide the most effective results in the shortest time, keeping in view the participants' caloric intake. This study aims to inspect the amount of fat loss, changes are seen on the weight scale, changes in body composition (via BIA analysis), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, keeping in view the intensity and duration of exercise parallel to their caloric intake. It was a four week (one month) comparative study on 50 home-based exercisers and 50 adults working out in the gym (ages 19 – 39) under the supervision of a trainer. The weight, body and visceral fat percentages were assessed using a Body Impedance Analysis (BIA) machine. Also, variables measured were waist circumference, height, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and social status (through MacArthur's subjective social status ladder). There was observed dietary history from every individual through a 24-hour dietary recall for the past three days. Subjects had a follow-up after every seven days (weekly), and all the data was entered and analyzed on SPSS. 
 Out of 100 participants, 68% study participants were males and 32% participants were females. Most of the participants were not taking any diet or were taking greater than equal to 1400 kcals per day. Comorbidity data showed that, 86% participants did not have any comorbidities while remaining 14% had different types of comorbidities. 49% participants were doing strength training, 34% were performing cardio, 12% were doing aerobics and 5% opted for yoga. In the gym in higher social status, it is only males that are working out while some females of low socio-economic status also work out at the gym. Males of very low socioeconomic status also prefer gym workout. In home-based work out there is equal number of males and females in higher social status whereas only females of low socioeconomic status prefer working out at home. Gender wise distribution of type of exercise (TOE) and type of diet (TOD) data showed that most males are strength training with ≥ 1400 kcal. Most females perform cardio exercises with a caloric intake of 1100 to 1300 kcal per day. classification of subjects according to body mass index (BMI) showed that 4% individuals had lower BMI, 24% were normal, 14% and 22% were overweight and obese respectively, however 28% had morbid obesity. Results showed that people who do home based workout had significant difference with body fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, waist circumference and body mass index. However, there were no significant differences found in terms of Waist to hip ratio, heart rate, and Respiratory Rate. The chi-square test shows .001 significance which means there is a significant association between BMI and gender. Gym and home-based workouts have their benefits, and we cannot label one as more beneficial. But people who work out in the gym had lesser body fat and lesser visceral fat, which gives it more significance. Moreover, gym workouts proved to keep control of blood pressure in individuals. Both gym and home workouts have similar effects on the waist to hip ratio, heart rate and respiratory rate. The benefit of home workouts is evident in reducing waist circumference.

The present study draws on Scott’s (2011) notion of the Re-Inventive Institution and explores how gym members make sense and give meaning to their exercise regime. Overall, it is argued that for many participants gym exercise is more than physical training; it is also training for life. Based on a thematic analysis of 32 semi-structured interviews it is argued that gym workout is a means to create better versions of the self on mainly three levels. First, gym participants perceive themselves to be efficient and productive in general. Second, gym training is believed to increase the control they have over their lives. Third, gym members associate their gym workout with amplified emotional resilience, believing that fitness workout makes them not only fitter in a physical sense but also fitter and better equipped in a psychological sense. Surprisingly, a small group of regular gym users displayed more critical sentiments and distanced themselves from the images and values the gym stands for. The results of this study can be linked to broader political discourses on health and fitness that make use of corporate managerial vocabularies and are based on ideals of rationalization and efficiency.

The prevalence of individuals with flat feet and high arches is very high (between 15% to 37%), which can often lead to other orthopedic complications. Three-dimensional-printed insoles are being studied and validated for their effects in correcting these highly prevalent foot disorders. Highly customizable parameters while printing the insole allows for precise correction of foot biomechanics. In this study, 200 patients suffering from various foot-related problems and joint pain were given 3d-printed insoles (designed using plantar pressure systems and clinical practitioner’s assessment) to use in their footwear. Tested activities included standing, walking, running, sports, and gym workout. Customization of insoles included custom density, heel cup, heel rise, medial arch height, and lateral wedge. Based on the patient history, additional podiatry elements were provided for patients with diabetes. Each insole was designed as per the insole profile of the shoe with a comfortable fit. These insoles were found to be effective in alleviating pain for more than 90% of the patients and provided a longer life cycle with effective orthotic correction (for >16 months of daily use). This paper presents the post-use effects (6–18 months) of custom 3D-printed insoles.

This mini-narrative review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity (PA) patterns across Asian countries, including regions such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Pre-pandemic (before 2019), Asia experienced gradually increasing PA participation rates, characterized predominantly by outdoor activities, gym workouts, and organized group exercises, driven by growing fitness awareness and the availability of facilities for exercise. During the pandemic (2020–2022), widespread declines in regular exercise occurred due to restrictions, causing a substantial shift toward indoor, home-based, and online-based PA. Low PA adversely affects cardiovascular health, immune function, obesity, metabolic conditions, and psychological well-being. Although home-based exercise modalities partially mitigated these impacts, their effectiveness remained limited compared to pre-pandemic routines. In the post-pandemic period (2022–2025), PA in Asia partially recovered, with some regions, such as Hong Kong and South Korea, reporting PA levels surpassing pre-pandemic baselines due to widespread adoption of hybrid exercise models. This recovery has fostered lasting changes toward hybrid exercise models, combining traditional and digital modalities, resulting in positive health outcomes across the cardiovascular, immune, metabolic, and psychological domains. Future public health strategies should emphasize flexible, diverse, and accessible exercise options, and further research should explore the sustainability and implications of these evolving exercise behaviors.

Getting Ready for Continence Certification: Assessing and Managing Stress Incontinence.

IntroductionNew conflict types have arisen in leisure sports activities due to social regulations designed to address COVID-19. We analyze the differences in conflict-inducing factors and coping strategies across various types of leisure sports and levels of spatial proximity.MethodsKorean adults aged between 20 and 60 years, who had participated in leisure sports activities since the COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020, were surveyed, and 508 responses were collected for analysis. The differences in leisure sports conflicts and coping strategies across the types of leisure sports participation and spatial proximity were tested.ResultsThe results show that conflict due to prejudice was higher in typical indoor sports activities, such as Pilates, yoga, and gym workouts, whereas conflict due to competition or not observing etiquette was higher in indoor golf. Second, conflict due to prior expectations and prejudice was high in outdoor sports activities, such as jogging and hiking. Finally, all participants showed avoidance behavior, but it was observed more frequently in outdoor sports than indoor sports.DiscussionThe study reveals how much leisure conflict is induced by various types of leisure sports participation, particularly during outdoor activities, which usually feature a relatively low density of participants. It underscores the necessity of developing structural approaches to resolving leisure conflicts in dangerous spaces or requiring intensive management and creating new leisure sports activities.

ForewordThis Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the author’s clinical recommendations.StageAfter a gym workout, a 48-year-old man had sudden ataxia, nausea, and diplopia, followed by persistent inability to see the upper left quadrant of space with either the left or right eye. He did not have neck pain. His medical history included hypertension and migraines with aura. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a right occipitotemporal and thalamic infarct. Magnetic resonance angiography showed an abrupt cutoff of a distal segment of the right posterior cerebral artery. The complete blood count, prothrombin time, and partial-thromboplastin time were normal. Transthoracic echocardiographic results suggested a possible right-to-left shunt. Cardiac telemetry during the first . . .

The development of novel interactive systems for supporting our daily activities (e.g., gym training activities) demands flexible and dynamic ontologies for knowledge representation and application support. In this paper, we propose a soft ontology-based architecture for dealing with decision support and recommendation under dynamic and uncertainty situations, including those related to gym training activities. Our architecture considers users’ characteristics and group’s feedback (e.g., comments, evaluation, sensor data and results) to develop and evolve flexible ontological structures using a Fuzzy RDF approach for implementing soft ontologies. The architecture was implemented by the OntoGymWP application, which provides suggestions of gym workout plans based on users’ features and social feedback represented in Fuzzy RDF ontologies. These ontologies are used to semantically encode: users’ profile; shared concepts from the domain for each group of users; and training plans for each individual. The implemented proof of concept reveals the viability of the architecture, as well as its potentiality in providing suitable gym workout plans based on extensible and flexible ontologies.

Muscle formation is a complex process that involves a combination of exercise, nutrition, and recovery. For gymgoers, understanding the science behind muscle formation can help optimize workout routines and achieve desired fitness goals. This article delves into the mechanisms of muscle formation, exploring how gym workouts contribute to strength and size gains

The use of supplements whey protein and excerise for muscle building is prevalent in society. while these suppliments carry signficants risks including severe medical complication like acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal problems. We present a 37-year-old male with mild to moderate swelling on face and feet, bilateral sided flank pain, nausea and vomiting. These suppliments and extreme gym workout enhanced the acute renal injury and gastrointestinal problems. This case highlight the importance of recognizing and managing complications related to exercise and whey protein suppliments. Enhance the social awareness and research on these complications avoid these suppliments and excercises to prevent from the longterm potential problems.

Patient-centered care in the conservative management of an unstable proximal phalanx fracture: A case report.

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) can identify cognitions that predict differences in behaviour between individuals. However, it is not clear whether the TPB can predict the behaviour of an individual person. This study employs a series of n-of-1 studies and time series analyses to examine the ability of the TPB to predict physical activity (PA) behaviours of six individuals. Six n-of-1 studies were conducted, in which TPB cognitions and up to three PA behaviours (walking, gym workout and a personally defined PA) were measured twice daily for six weeks. Walking was measured by pedometer step count, gym attendance by self-report with objective validation of gym entry and the personally defined PA behaviour by self-report. Intra-individual variability in TPB cognitions and PA behaviour was observed in all participants. The TPB showed variable predictive utility within individuals and across behaviours. The TPB predicted at least one PA behaviour for five participants but had no predictive utility for one participant. Thus, n-of-1 designs and time series analyses can be used to test theory in an individual.