USC

May 21 2026SCIENCE

Does the Period of a Woman’s Cycle Matter for Muscle Gains?

A group of scientists wanted to find out if the stage a woman is in during her menstrual cycle changes how much muscle she can build or how strong she gets when doing resistance training. They set up a study where women were split into two groups: one that trained during the early part of her cycle

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Slow Moves, Big Gains: Easy Daily Workouts Build Muscle

People often think big muscles need hard, long workouts. New research from Edith Cowan University shows that tiny, slow movements can actually make muscles stronger and bigger. The study focused on eccentric exercise, which is the part of a lift where the muscle lengthens – for example, lowering a w

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May 05 2026SPORTS

Boosting Table Tennis Skills with Two Types of Tabata Workouts

The research looked at how two different Tabata training styles affect table tennis players. One style mixes body‑weight moves and quick jumps, while the other uses kettlebells for strength. Researchers measured changes in muscle power, speed and overall fitness after the programs ran for several we

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May 03 2026SCIENCE

How Prairie Dogs Dig: Muscle Secrets Behind Their Burrows

Prairie dogs are famous for their underground homes, built by generations of digging. These tunnels serve as safe spots from predators and as meeting places for their tight-knit groups. But how do their bodies handle all that work? Scientists recently studied nine black-tailed prairie dogs to uncove

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Apr 25 2026HEALTH

How expert advice helps speed up safe drug trials for muscle diseases

Back in 2009, a small group of experts started giving free, no-nonsense feedback to anyone trying to turn a muscle-disease idea into a real treatment. Their main job was to stop bad drugs from reaching patients too early, and to make sure good drugs had a fair shot at proving they worked. Over 15 ye

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Apr 22 2026HEALTH

When Radiation Hits Weak Muscles: New Findings in a Rare Childhood Disorder

Researchers have uncovered fresh clues about how muscle cells react when exposed to radiation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Unlike typical muscle loss seen in the disorder, these cells show an unusual sensitivity to radiation that may speed up damage. Boys with DMD, who make up almost all ca

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Apr 15 2026EDUCATION

The Secret Strength Behind Michelangelo's Famous Sculpture

Michelangelo's Moses isn’t just famous for looking angry or important. Look closely at its right arm. The forearm bulges in a specific spot—the brachioradialis muscle. Most people skip over this. They focus on the dramatic face or the way the statue holds stone tablets. But this overlooked muscle te

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Apr 13 2026HEALTH

Keeping muscles strong as you age isn’t complicated

Muscles naturally weaken with time, but the decline speeds up after 30 and jumps sharply after 60. This process, called sarcopenia, doesn’t just make movement harder—it can steal independence. Research shows two simple habits make a huge difference: how much protein you eat and how active you stay.

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Apr 07 2026HEALTH

Time Swapped: How Moving One Minute Can Change COPD Risk

The study explores what happens when people change how they spend a single minute in their daily routine. Researchers used data from wearable sensors that track real movement to see how shifting minutes between sleeping, sitting, standing and walking affects lung health. They found that even a ti

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Mar 20 2026SCIENCE

Low‑Pressure Blood Flow Restriction Boosts Muscle Work Without Heavy Load

The study looked at how different levels of blood flow restriction affect the body during light, controlled muscle movements. Researchers tested several percentages of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) to see which level best increased muscle activation while keeping the effort feel low. They measur

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