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Women benefit from light-intensity resistance exercise during pregnancy and this type of physical activity is not apt to alter the way they deliver their baby,suggests a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Researchers compared delivery outcomes after supervised toning and resistance exercises in 80 women during mid to late pregnancy with 80 non-exercising peers. In contrast to a previous report of increased vaginal delivery associated with regular exercise during pregnancy,the researchers found no differences in delivery mode between the groups. Fifty-one exercisers delivered vaginally,another 10 had a delivery requiring instruments,and 11 had Cesarean,compared with 50,9,and 11,respectively,in non-exercisers.

ZERO TO 20

Kids of bipolar parents at risk of mental woes

Children whose parents have bipolar disorder a mental illness marked by severe mood swings from depression to mania have an eight-fold higher risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD relative to young children of mentally healthy parents. They also have a six-fold high risk of having two or more mental disorders,suggest the findings of a research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study compared 121 children aged 2 to 5 years from 83 parents with bipolar disorder with 102 children of the same age from 65 comparison group parents with no history of bipolar disorder. While only three children of bipolar parents had mood disorders,children of parents with bipolar disorder,especially those with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder,had significantly more severe manic and depressive symptoms.

20 TO 50

Burned out? So are your kids

Parents who complain of feeling burned out at work are more likely to have kids who are burned out at school. The evidence comes from a study of 370 students from 11 schools in Finland as well as one or both of their parents. When researchers assessed the level of burnout experienced by both parents and students,they found several factors including the size of the daily workload as well as financial stress primarily responsible for the level of burnout that adults and teens were feeling at work and school. The findings appeared in the European Journal of Developmental Psychology.

50 AND ABOVE

Treadmill helps Parkinsons patients walk better

Treadmill training can help Parkinsons patients to walk more normally,suggests a new review of the medical literature published in The Cochrane Library. Parkinsons patients have a characteristic shuffling gait,which can boost their risk of falls and fractures. Treadmill training has been used to help improve gait in Parkinsons patients as it helps in improving walking speed,stride length and walking distance. The evidence should be interpreted with caution,researchers add,because its based on only eight small studies.