One of the world's leading researchers into spinal cord injuries says China could hold the key to a cure that he has been searching for since he met late actor Christopher Reeve in the 1990s. US-based Doctor Wise Young first used the word "cure" in relation to his work after a conversation with Reeve, the "Superman" hero who became quadriplegic in an equestrian accident in 1995. Reeve contacted him looking for help and the two became close friends. … full story

Dick Sandhaus, a healthy and fit 62-year old, says he never gave his balance a thought until he lost it. A wicked sprained ankle was the result. Now he practices balancing for a few minutes each day and urges his fellow baby boomers to do the same. "Rocking toes to heels and quadriceps stretches are things anybody can do if they have a floor," said Sandhaus, a self-described ex-hippie who dispenses fitness tips on his website, BetterCheaperSlower. … full story

Elite male athletes who participate in high-contact sports such as football, soccer and rugby have a higher risk of developing knee and hip osteoarthritis than men who exercise little or not at all, a Swedish study found. There was a doubled risk in soccer and handball players, and a tripled risk in ice hockey players, added the researchers, whose study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Osteoarthritis, also called "wear … full story

Having a baby may make a woman more intelligent. Research shows that a woman’s grey matter – brain cells that crunch information – grows in the weeks and months after she has given birth. And it’s the most doting mothers who experience the biggest burst of brain cells. Such changes usually only occur after intense periods of learning or a brain injury or illness. It is thought that the hormonal changes associated with having a baby ‘supercharge’ … full story

More than three million women have received medical attention or been rushed to hospital because of their passion for killer heels. Researchers say that a fifth of women have gone to such extreme lengths to wear trendy shoes that they have ended up twisting their ankle or tearing a tendon. And a third have fallen flat on their face as a result of their heels, with many damaging their teeth and breaking their wrists. The poll of 3,000 women, published … full story

It is a well-known fact that indulging in aerobic sports activity like badminton gives multiple health benefits and promotes longevity. In fact it has been found that playing badminton till you get an increase in heart rate or mild breathlessness regularly in middle age lowers the risk of death by about 23% in the subsequent 20 years and improves longevity by at least 2 years. The optimal health benefits are achieved by playing badminton for at … full story

Whenever you think of someone who has frequent headaches, you may often think about adults. The latest headache pains surveys reveal a surprising fact that is, headaches in a child occur just as frequently as headaches in adults. It’s a very startling fact that generally, before being admitted in schools, almost 30% of children have had experienced their first headache. Unfortunately nobody really knows what triggers headaches in a child. Causes … full story