Most of us here at the physiotherapy clinic are regularly involved in some kind of sport or exercise . This varies from triathlons, cycling, skiing, running, football, exercise classes , swimming, walking and climbing. We do these because we enjoy them, it keeps us fit and means we can tuck into a substantial plateful and glass of wine with a clearer conscience. BUT it is even better than that. A recent article in the Guardian reported that
"Neuroscientists at Cambridge University have shown that running stimulates the brain to grow fresh grey matter and it has a big impact on mental ability.
A few days of running led to the growth of hundreds of thousands of new brain cells that improved the ability to recall memories without confusing them, a skill that is crucial for learning and other cognitive tasks". The full story can be found at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jan/18/running-brain-memory-cell-growth
So it would seem that the more we know about exercise the greater the benefits seem to be. It is good for the body and the brain; a definite win win situation......particularly when you can also enjoy a good meal.