Can video games help chronic low back pain?

New research from University of Sydney has found home-based video-game exercises can reduce chronic low back pain in older people by 27 per cent, which is comparable to benefits gained under programs supervised by a physiotherapist.

Collective action required to save Aussie kids from obesity

Curbing obesity in Australia’s children is achievable and can be realised through a combination of smart governance, community initiatives, the support of individual efforts, and clinical leadership.

Optimism is good for your heart

Optimism and a sense of purpose are good for heart health, as optimistic patients are less likely to be smokers and more likely to exercise and eat healthy, according to U.S. research.

Healthy eating can spare your wallet as well as your waistline

While people often use the supposed cost of healthy eating as an excuse to maintain their bad diet, ditching junk food can actually save you money as well as benefit your health and waistline.

Are greens better than pills to prevent falls for elderly people?

Just half a cup of broccoli a day can help older people avoid being hospitalised for a fall, new research from Edith Cowan University has found.

CSIRO releases ‘Future of Health’ report

A new report on the future of health care in Australia looks to shift the health system’s focus from the treatment of illness towards better health and wellbeing management.

The roundabout risk for elderly drivers

Newly published research shows why so many older drivers crash at roundabouts and what can be done to improve safety.

ACU leads the fight against sugary drinks

The Australian Catholic University has become the first Australian university to remove sugary drinks from all its vending machines and hopes the move will encourage other universities, schools and workplaces to follow suit.

The National Emergency Access Target keeps hospitals moving

A UNSW-led study has confirmed for the first time that the implementation of the four-hour National Emergency Access Target has helped reduce chronic overcrowding in hospital emergency departments.

The ongoing threat of asbestos in Australia

Even though the mineral was banned in 2003, asbestos lingers in older homes and, as they undergo repairs or redevelopment, harmful fibers are released, endangering home owners and construction workers.

Gut study questions benefits of probiotics

New research shows that many people’s digestive tracts prevent standard probiotics from successfully colonising them. Furthermore, taking probiotics to counterbalance antibiotics could delay the return of normal gut bacteria to their original state.

3 new ‘superbugs’ invade Australian hospitals

Three new strains of superbug resistant to most antibiotics have been found in Australian hospitals, and are spreading quickly. Modern hospital practices, including the use of antibiotic impregnated medical devices such as catheters, may have driven the evolution of this once benign bacteria towards potentially incurable infections.