This Walking Pattern Can Help Your Cognitive And Physical Health: Experts Explain Infinity Walking

Updated Oct 12, 2025 | 02:00 PM IST

SummaryWalking is one of the best ways to maintain your health. One such walking trend that deserves more attention is the ‘infinity walking’. However, what does it actually mean, does it imply walking forever? Here is what you need to know about this style and how to do it for the best results.
This Walking Pattern Can Help Your Cognitive And Physical Health: Experts Explain How Infinity Walking Works

(Credit-Canva)

Walking is one of the best ways to improve your health. A low-effort easy to do exercise that has numerable benefits. You may have heard of different walking styles like the Japanese walking style, 6-6-6 walking trend, etc. Although the goal of walking remains the same, these styles have different ways that will help you achieve it. One more such style is infinity walking.

Despite what the name may sound like, infinity walking doesn’t mean walking forever. However, how do you do this walk and how is it beneficial? In a video posed by Dr. Ankita Dhelia, Integrative Physician (MBBS, MSc Osteopathy) in 2022, she demonstrated how it should be done.

How To Do Infinity Walk?

In the video, Dr Dhelia demonstrated the exercise, instructing viewers to walk in an infinity shape, or a figure of eight. To do this, one should choose any two items as reference points. The exercise becomes more powerful when two elements are added:

  • An arm swing
  • A fixed gaze (fixing the eyes on a single point).

Dr. Dhelia cautioned that while the exercise looks easy, it is not, noting that the gaze naturally tends to drift away.

How Does Infinity Walking Affect Coordination?

Dr. Dhelia highlighted the deep impact of holding that fixed gaze while walking and swinging the arms. This action helps create stronger connections in the brain, leading to noticeably better hand-eye coordination and flexibility in the feet and ankles, which she called good foot and ankle mobility.

On a deeper level, this practice is said to help improve the function of your internal organs. Most importantly, it significantly boosts concentration, memory, and the overall ability for your brain to develop and stay sharp.

For those who want an extra challenge, Dr. Dhelia suggested adding either a mental task (like counting) or a simple physical task (like clapping after every few steps) while continuing the figure-eight walk. Dr. Dhelia highly recommended performing this exercise for just 15 to 20 minutes every day for excellent overall health.

Do Studies Back Infinity Walking?

Researchers have looked into the method and many back it as well. One such study is the 2023 fNIRS study done by Oslo Metropolitan University. The Infinity Walk is Balanced

The main finding was that the Infinity Walk creates a strong, steady, and balanced level of activity in both the left and right sides of the brain. This balanced effect is likely because the figure-eight pattern requires constant, alternating movement.

Good for Rehab

The consistent and positive brain activity suggests that the Infinity Walk is a promising tool for physical and neurological recovery (rehabilitation).

Shoes and Pronation

The study could not clearly prove that different types of shoes or the degree of foot pronation significantly changed the brain activity. The effect of the challenging figure-eight walk itself was too strong, making the results for shoes and pronation unreliable.

Main Brain Areas

Most brain regions related to movement (like the motor cortex) showed similar responses, but two areas related to language and hearing (Broca's Area and Temporal Gyrus) had noticeably different activity.

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Barely Get Time To Workout In Your Busy Schedule? 'Exercise Snacks' Could Be Your Way To Fitness

Updated Oct 11, 2025 | 11:00 AM IST

SummaryFeel overwhelmed and unsure when you think of long hours in the gym? You may benefit from ‘Exercise Snacks’ or ‘Snacktivity’. But what exactly do these terms mean, and do they actually help you get fit? Here is what you need to know about this type of workout and how it is done.

If you feel guilty because you don't have an hour to exercise, "snacking" on short bursts of activity might be the answer. A new term, exercise snacks, describes brief, intentional movements lasting five minutes or less that can be easily squeezed into your busiest day. Unlike unhealthy food snacking, this is a guilt-free approach that makes getting fitter feel completely doable.

Are Short Exercises More Effective?

A major scientific review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that these "exercise snacks" significantly boosted cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), which is how well your heart and lungs work. This benefit was seen in adults who were not active before.

High Success Rate

Data from the study showed that most people (over 82%) stuck with the plan. This proves that it is very easy and practical to fit these short, frequent moments of activity into a busy schedule.

Overcoming Barriers

As the study authors point out, these short, flexible bouts of movement are much easier to integrate into daily life, helping people overcome common excuses like feeling they lack time or motivation.

How to Do "Snacktivity"

This approach, sometimes called "snacktivity," works by making frequency matter more than duration. Instead of trying to find an hour for the gym, you incorporate short bursts of movement (five minutes or less) into your day, ideally at least twice.

Simple Ways to Integrate Exercise Snacks:

  • Take the stairs in your office building or at the subway station.
  • Do bodyweight squats or jumping jacks during a short work break.
  • Park farther away so you have to walk more steps to your destination.
  • Add weight-bearing exercises to build muscle.
  • Include stretching exercises for better movement.
  • Doing all types of exercise helps maintain and improve your strength, balance, and stability.

Why This Approach Works Psychologically

A five-minute task feels manageable, making it easy to start. Finishing a small workout successfully releases dopamine, also known as the "reward molecule", which builds self-belief and turns the activity into a predictable habit.

Physiologically, even extremely short workouts are powerful. Just three 10-second stair climbs spread throughout the day can measurably improve your heart and lung health by making your body better at using oxygen.

While exercise snacks improve fitness in inactive adults, they are not a full substitute for the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Also, the evidence for improving muscle strength or other health markers is still limited.

For inactive adults, "snacktivity" is a powerful on-ramp to fitness. It helps overcome the major psychological barriers of "lack of time" and "low motivation." You don't have to tackle heart health in big, daunting blocks of time—you can simply nibble away at it throughout your day.

Does Intensity Also Help?

According to the UCLA Health, workouts that are too long or too intense can easily lead to injuries and might even contribute to long-term inflammation. Research suggests that shorter, well-timed workouts may actually be more beneficial than extended session.

These studies show that even two-minute bursts of intense effort—like sprinting up stairs—provide measurable health benefits. It's the intensity, not the duration, that matters here. This high-intensity, short-burst exercise is very effective for building muscle and strengthening your heart.

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Pregnant And Doing Yoga? These Are The Yoga Poses To Skip For Safety

Updated Oct 8, 2025 | 11:00 PM IST

SummaryYoga can be a safe and beneficial exercise during pregnancy, but some poses may put you and your baby at risk. Learn which movements to avoid and how to practice safely while expecting. Keep reading for more details.
pregnancy yoga

Credits: Canva

Yoga is one of the safest and most effective exercises you can do while pregnant, it can help you relax, stay strong, and even get ready for childbirth, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, it is important to take precautions to protect both yourself and your growing baby. While many yoga poses are beneficial during pregnancy, there are some you should avoid. Below, we highlight the yoga poses to steer clear of while expecting.

Is It Safe To Practice Yoga In Pregnancy?

Pregnancy brings a lot of physical changes and discomfort, but that does not mean you have to give up yoga entirely if you already practice it. Many poses are still safe to continue, while others may need to be modified or avoided completely.

Benefits Of Yoga During Pregnancy

Prenatal yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. It improves strength and flexibility, reduces stress and anxiety, eases common pregnancy discomforts like back pain and fatigue, enhances sleep, and prepares both body and mind for labor. Yoga can also help regulate blood pressure, improve circulation, and foster a stronger connection between mother and baby.

Yoga Poses To Avoid During Pregnancy

Here’s a guide to the yoga poses that are best avoided during pregnancy:

Abdominal Work

Any pose that puts pressure on your abdomen can create unnecessary compression and affect blood flow. These poses may also increase strain on your body and contribute to conditions like diastasis recti, where the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy.

Some poses to avoid include:

  • Crow Pose
  • Bicycles
  • Planks
  • Crunches

Twisting & Stretching

Twists are not entirely off-limits during pregnancy. With your doctor’s approval, open twists in the third trimester can feel good and may even help relieve tension. Twisting should come from the shoulders rather than the abdomen, keeping the belly open and never compressed.

Some poses to avoid include:

  • Moon Pose
  • Spinal Twist
  • Boat Pose
  • Tree Pose

Jumping or Fast Flowing

Rapid movements or lots of jumping in early pregnancy may cause nausea. Yoga poses that involve quick, high-impact motions should be avoided. Gentle, restorative postures are a safer choice, supporting fetal growth and reducing potential complications.

Poses to avoid:

  • Any yoga movement involving rapid or forceful motion

Lying Back

Lying flat on your back during pregnancy can cause nausea, back pain, increased blood pressure, and heartburn. Long periods in this position may also compress the vena cava, the vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart, which can lead to complications.

Poses to avoid:

  • Corpse Pose
  • Lying Down Body Twist
  • Boat Pose
  • Plough Pose

Heated Yoga

Some yoga practices raise your body temperature. During pregnancy, it’s crucial to avoid poses that overheat the body, as this can lead to dehydration and other complications throughout all trimesters.

Poses to avoid:

  • Kapalbhati (Breath of Fire Pose)
  • Headstand
  • Warrior Pose
  • Bikram Pose

Belly Down

Poses that put extra pressure on your abdomen can be risky while your baby is growing. Any yoga that requires lying on or bending the stomach should be avoided.

Poses to avoid:

  • Swan Pose
  • Cobra Pose
  • Seated Forward Bend
  • Bow Pose

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Tyreek Hill Injury: Left Knee Dislocated; Know More About The Common Leg Injuries In Football

Updated Oct 1, 2025 | 08:05 AM IST

SummaryTyreek Hill's season came to an abrupt halt after he dislocated his left knee and was admitted in the hospital. He is now being checked for any other severe injuries. Many medical institutions believe that football in the US is among one of the most dangerous sports, and leg injuries thus are very common. Read on to know what are they.
Tyreek Hill Injury: Left Knee Dislocated; Know More About The Common Leg Injuries In Football

Credits: AP

Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill's season came to a sudden end on Monday night, when his knee became badly twisted shortly after he made a catch near the sideline. The coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Hill was diagnosed with a dislocated knee and had to be in hospital overnight.

An air cast was also placed over his leg, which was taken off the field on cart. He was then taken to a nearby hospital, and kept for "imaging, evaluation, and observation".

McDaniel said, "He immediately had wide eyes and was talking, 'I'm good, just make sure the guys get this win.' He was focused on the team."

As of now, Hill will be undergoing an MRI exam and a CT scan. His agent Drew Rosenhaus told WSVN that he is being checked for any torn ligaments, cartilage, broken bones or nerve damage.

Associated Press has reported that Hill ha been taken off field for left knee dislocation.

What Happens In A Knee Dislocation?

As per the National Institute of Health, US, a knee dislocation is a potentially devastating injury and is often a surgical emergency. Knee dislocations comprise ligamentous, bony, and neurovascular injuries that, when unrecognized, significantly increase the risk of amputation of the affected limb. Even dislocations that spontaneously reduce before evaluation by a healthcare professional carry the risk of significant neurovascular injury.

Delayed diagnosis and management of knee dislocations increases the risk of long-term arthrofibrosis and joint instability. While most dislocated knees never fully return to their pre-injury state, timely and accurate diagnosis paired with prompt intervention can significantly improve outcomes for patients with this potentially complex orthopedic injury.

Common Leg Injuries In Football

As per the Southern Pain and Neurological Clinic, football is one of the most dangerous contact sports in the United States, this is also a reason why players wear layers of protective clothing and equipment.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the most common injury types in football include strains at 40%, contusions at 25%, dislocations at 15%, fractures at 10%, and concussions at 5%.

Read: 21-year-old Billy Vigar Of Chichester City Dies Of Sustaining Brain Injury

Common Injuries Include:

Muscle Strains

This happens when a muscle or tendon is overstretched, mainly due to acceleration or deceleration. This injury is also known as pulled muscles and typically affects the lower back, hamstrings, or ankles.

Knee Ligament Injury

Ligaments connect bones in the body, and ligaments that connect the lower leg to the thigh bone are most susceptible to injuries in football.

There are four knee ligaments injuries that can happen:

  • ACL or the Anterior cruciate ligament at the center of the knee
  • PCL or the Posterior cruciate ligament at the center of the knee
  • MCL or the Medial collateral ligament on the inside of the knee
  • LCL or the Lateral collateral ligament on the outside of the knee

Among these, the most common knee ligament injury in football is the rapture of the ACL. This is because it is the ligament that controls the rotation of the shinbone and forward movement.

Achilles Tendonitis

This happens when the tendon linking the calf muscles to the heel becomes irritated or injured. This often results from intense or repetitive strain. The condition can cause sharp pain and, in severe cases, make it difficult or even impossible to walk, jump, or move the toes.

Hamstring Strains

This happens when a player over stretches while running, jumping, or in action. This happens with a sharp pain at the back of the thigh and in severe cases, a player may have a torn hamstring.

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