Research

Moderate sweat: Sedentary adults are more likely to stick with moderate exercise routines, researchers at Duke University Medical Center say.

Intensive regimens have the most dramatic results, but couch potatoes gravitate toward programs that add up to about 11 miles of brisk walking or jogging a week.

Most of the 87 adults enrolled in the Duke study cited lack of time for their failure to follow through on an exercise program. Walking was the workout of choice.

The subjects were divided into low-, moderate- or high-intensity exercise programs for nine months. The study showed that though subjects in the high-intensity group got the most results, they scaled back on their physical activity when the supervised portion of the exercise study ended.

Barriers included lack of motivation, family obligations, lack of exercise facilities, illness or injury and lack of support or travel.

Hot news

No hurts: Contrary to popular belief, clumsy children are not more injury-prone than their more sure-footed peers, says a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

David Schwebel, a psychologist, directed a study looking at the link between motor ability and unintentional injuries.

No correlation was found, even after controlling for age, sports and gender.

Schwebel speculates that motor skills in conjunction with a child's temperament and exposure to risky situations could play a role in injury.

Tips

Fore: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these tips for reducing golf-related injuries:

• Take lessons and build your activity level up slowly.

• Shoes matter: Golf shoes with short cleats work best.

• Warm up and stretch before golfing.

• Incorporate strength-training into preparations.

• Don't hunch over the ball: It encourages neck strain and rotator cuff tendinitis.

• Don't overemphasize the wrists during the swing: You'll cut your risk of "golfer's elbow."

• Keep the pelvis level during the swing.

• Be alert for dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Calendar

Faster: Bob Roncker, owner of the Running Spot, will speak on footwear and foot care during exercise at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Hyde Park Center for Older Adults, 2800 Erie Ave. Information: 321-6816.

Safe: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will hold a summer Safety Fair from 10 a.m.-noon June 28 at its Mason outpatient location, 9560 Children's Drive, Mason. Free. Information: 636-5714 or on the Web (www.cincinnatichildrens.org/classes) .

Shelf help

New plan: Curves: Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting (G.P. Putnam's Sons; $22.95) by Gary Heavin and Carol Coleman brings the women's gym chain program home, with a workout and food plan.

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Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone, 768-8510; fax, 768-8330, or e-mail, pofarrell@enquirer.com