More People Needing Care Spring 2014 | Page 34

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING • NURSING.MSU.EDU HEALTH BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Strong evidence • Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness • Improved bone health • Improved cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers • Favorable body composition PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RESEARCH • Reduced symptoms of depression Overview of Current Research Nurse scientists are testing interventions to help people manage symptoms and improve quality of life by: • reducing fatigue for persons with non-small cell lung cancer through a home-based, post surgery exercise regimen • increasing physical activity for middle school girls through a school-based intervention program • using exercise physiology for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to resolve peripheral neuropathy • improving frailty among dementia patients with Tai Chi • determining physical activity motivators and barriers among Latinas Collaborating Across Disciplines 34 Moderate evidence Physical activity researchers participate in MSU’s Trifecta—an interdisciplinary research collaborative which brings experts from the Colleges of Nursing, Engineering and Communication Arts [