Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2024 i Men's Fitness UK

Aging is often cited as a key risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, but don’t let that fool you – this condition can strike athletes young and old alike. Whether it’s a past injury, an infection, being overweight, or even hereditary tendencies, there are numerous reasons why knee pain, swelling, and stiffness can crop up at any age. The good news? Exercise is your secret weapon. By strengthening the muscles around your joints, you can create a more stable foundation for your knees. But here’s the kicker: a study from the University of South Australia found that many people with osteoarthritis recognise the benefits of staying active yet still hold back. A staggering 69% believe that exercise might actually be dangerous. This disconnect isn’t just a mental hiccup – it reflects…

Canyon has just unveiled the hotly anticipated fourth generation of its Aeroad road bike. Designed and engineered with feedback from Canyon pro riders and mechanics, testing at the GST Wind Tunnel in South Germany has shown the Aeroad to be the fastest bike in the World Tour peloton. And it can be yours for a little under £10,000. (Though there is also a sub-£4,000 option.) Canyon wanted to harness the raw speed of the previous generation while making refinements across the board. You may have seen Alpecin Deceuninck riding it at the Tour de France. Watch the Olympic road race in August and you’ll see World Road Race Champion Mathieu Van Der Poel on board one too. Such elite-level endorsements are testament to the Aeroad’s race-winning credentials. Smart specs The…

As someone who’s pretty active, I’ve had difficulty finding the best running headphones. I want great sound, but there are also times when I want to be aware of my surroundings, especially when running or cycling outside – or even when navigating a busy street. There have been many attempts by tech brands to make earphones that offer a good balance between audio quality and open-ear awareness, à la the Shokz OpenFit or Sony’s LinkBuds, but I’ve never found any that work all that convincingly. Enter a new kind of earbud that promises to blend premium audio quality with an open-ear design: Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds. These earphones are unique in that they hook around the middle of your ears, keeping you connected to the world while promising to deliver…

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a challenging environment filled with acids, bile salts, and digestive enzymes. Throughout an average lifetime, about 60 tonnes of food traverse the GI tract, which is home to over 100-trillion bacteria of approximately 2,172 species. This collection of microbes, known as the microbiome, plays a crucial role in our health, particularly in relation to exercise. Gut feeling In 2014, Irish researchers found that exercise is linked to increased gut microbial diversity. They studied 40 professional Irish rugby players and 46 controls, split by body mass index (BMI). Findings revealed that the athletes had lower inflammatory markers and more diverse microbiomes than the controls. Specifically, the rugby players and the low BMI controls had higher levels of Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium commonly found in the GI…

Chris Skelley was a typical teenager: contact-sports mad and working towards a career as a mechanic. Then, at the age of 17, his vision began to deteriorate, and his life changed forever. Skelley was diagnosed with Oculus Albinism, Bell’s Reflex, and Extreme Photophobia, which caused him to eventually lose around 70% of his vision. He had to quit his job and say goodbye to any ball sports. Luckily, the tactile nature of judo meant this was one discipline he could continue training. The now-30-year-old learned to adapt, and through work, grit, and skill, was selected to compete at the Paralympics. He went on to become a European Champion, win two World Championship bronze medals, and placed top of the podium at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics – GB’s first Para Judo…

When it comes to upping the mileage or smashing your PBs as you progress as a runner, donning a pair of the best running shoes can make a huge difference. Alongside keeping your feet comfortable while pounding the pavements or hitting the trails, modern trainers also offer a range of features to enhance your stride, every step of the way. To help you put your best foot forward, our team of testers – which includes members of Paddock Wood Athletic Club, half of The Run Testers in Kieran Alger and Mike Sawh, and the MF editorial team – have spent the best part of the last year reviewing endless shoes in the search for the perfect pair. The products featured here – two in each category – are the cream…

Here is a secret about Jonny Wilkinson. Although the former fly-half attained sporting immortality when his late drop goal against Australia won England the 2003 Rugby World Cup, he has never watched a video of that historic match. “I haven’t watched it, no,” confesses Wilkinson, now a 45-year-old TV pundit, rugby coach and businessman. “For me, my whole opportunity is here and now. I just don’t find myself delving into my memory. It’s a bit like playing rugby. You take the ball and you run right up to the defensive line, and you have an idea of what you want to happen, but what’s actually needed unfolds right there and then. And that’s why people come off the field and go, I don’t know how I did that. “Whatever the…

Cardio conditioning In the ring, endurance is paramount. Boxing drills, from intense sparring sessions to high-energy heavy bag work, demand prolonged bursts of cardiovascular activity. This high-intensity training torches calories, boosts metabolism, and shreds body fat, turning you into a lean, mean fighting machine. Action it: Start with three-minute rounds of shadowboxing with one-minute rests. Gradually increase the intensity. Explosive strength A powerful punch isn’t just about upper-body strength; it’s a whole-body endeavour. Boxing training hones explosive muscle power, especially in your core, hips, and legs. Action it: Incorporate circuit training with medicine ball slams and kettlebell swings to amplify your strength and explosive power. Agility and reflexes Dodging punches and delivering swift counters necessitate lightning-fast reflexes and agile footwork. Speed ladder drills, cone drills, and rhythmic rope skipping are…

Achiselled, powerful chest isn’t just an aesthetic milestone; it’s a testament to your dedication and strength training prowess. For many gym-goers, the pursuit of a big, strong chest is the pinnacle of their fitness goals. This focus often leads to an almost religious devotion to the bench press – the one move that dominates chest day routines across the globe. The chest, or pectoral region, comprises the pectoralis major and minor – familiarly known as the pecs – along with the serratus anterior. These crucial muscles play a vital role in the mechanics of pushing movements, making the bench press a celebrated benchmark for upper-body power. However, achieving an enviable chest demands more than just pumping out reps on the bench. It requires a strategic approach to target the upper,…

According to a YouGov survey conducted for BBC Radio 5 Live, 75% of British men admitted they have never or rarely danced. Embarrassment tops the list of reasons why, with many avoiding the dance floor to steer clear of becoming the centre of attention, being ridiculed, or judged. One theme from the survey is that many men simply think they’re terrible dancers. That’s despite recent research published in the Journal of Sports Medicine, which reveals that dancing isn’t just a good cardio workout. It also combats health issues linked to sedentary lifestyles, alleviates symptoms of mental health problems, and enhances cognitive abilities as we age. Fortunately, this narrative could be changing with the surge of mindful movement events happening nationwide. These events offer transformative experiences that help men tap into…

In every issue… Men’s Fitnessis about more than rippling muscles, or chicken and broccoli dinners. These days, we’ve expanded our remit slightly. Our extensive collection of workouts, strength training tips and nutrition advice will help you look the part, sure, but it’s an unfortunate fact that big muscles don’t equate to happiness. Which is why in the pages of our monthly issues and online at mensfitnesstoday.com, you will also find the tools you need to improve all the unseen aspects of your health, too. If you’re looking for celebrity training plans or quick-fix diets, you’ll be better served elsewhere. However, if you want to learn how to make a healthy way of living second nature – no matter how busy you are – we’ve got you covered. And now, for…

Pain and injuries are an unavoidable part of life – and exercise. Whether it’s the strain from intense training sessions or lingering aches from recurring injuries, recovery tools that work are invaluable – but not always easy to find. That’s where the Kineon MOVE+ Pro comes in. This high-tech red light therapy device promises to deliver relief from joint pain and enhance muscle recovery through some pretty cutting-edge tech. The MOVE+ Pro works by using a combination of red light and infrared lasers to penetrate deep into tissues, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. It’s been designed to be lightweight, portable and easy to use. Setting it up Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about what it’s like to get it up and running. The device arrives in a compact…

It’s a bright Wednesday morning and I’m walking down a series of unfamiliar backstreets. At the end of the road is a man I’ve never met, who has agreed to punch me in the face. I’ve never been punched before. I’ve never thrown a punch either. I’m 32-years-old, and I don’t know how I’ve been lucky enough to avoid it. I grew up in the South Wales valleys where scraps were fairly common. I’ve seen a friend bleed on his history homework after he was sucker punched mid-lesson, and watched in horror as a boy was beaten up by multiple men at my local skatepark. That one in particular shook me up. Very few people tried to fight me growing up. I could pretend it’s because I was incredibly charming,…

A study out of Nagoya University in Japan has uncovered a link between the consumption of small fish and a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, providing a fresh perspective on how our dietary choices can significantly influence longevity. While previous studies have already established the protective effects of fish in general, this research specifically emphasises the potential life-extending advantages of regularly eating small fish. The traditional Japanese diet features a variety of small fish such as whitebait, capelin, and smelt. One of the unique practices in this culinary culture is the whole consumption of these fish, meaning they are eaten in their entirety, including the head, bones, and internal organs. This approach not only reduces waste but also ensures you reap the full spectrum of health benefits. Small fish are…

If you’re looking to push your limits and discover how your hard work measures up, these workouts are just what you need. Each session has been expertly crafted to challenge a different aspect of your fitness, be it aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, or bodyweight strength. Dive in and find out where you stand. THE AIM: AEROBIC FITNESS WORKOUT 1: 10-MIN ASSAULT BIKE (MAX KCALS) The ultimate benchmark for power output is undoubtedly the ten-minute max calories assault bike test. Designed to measure your work capacity, this test is straightforward to execute and generally doesn’t lead to excessive fatigue, thanks to the concentric-only nature of the assault bike. This allows you to push yourself to your maximum effort without compromising the rest of your training or testing for the week. WORKOUT…