6 Foot Moves Possibly Worth Prescribing

Before patients invest in pricey orthotics or chalk their foot pain up to “getting older,” it may be worth recommending a low-risk, high-reward alternative: foot exercises. Experts from Harvard and the University of South Florida are championing simple, home-based routines—like foot doming, toe spreads, and even “toe yoga”—to help strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles, reduce pain, and improve balance. These moves can benefit a wide range of patients, from those with plantar fasciitis to individuals recovering from long days on their feet. One exercise even involves holding "hands" with their toes (manual joint mobilization meets self-care). For patients struggling with sore, achy feet or stability issues, a few minutes of daily footwork could go a long way—no referral required.

Source: NPR

The Carbs That Loved Women Back 

Turns out, not all carbs are aging us badly—some are practically the fountain of youth in a fiber wrapper. Researchers followed over 47,000 women for three decades and found that those who loaded up on high-quality carbs (think fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes—not those expensive cookies) were more likely to cruise into their 70s with their minds, moods, and mobility intact. Meanwhile, refined carbs and starchy standbys like potatoes got a side-eye for being linked to lower odds of “healthy aging.” Even better? Swapping just 5% of energy from junky carbs or animal fat for quality carbs gave aging a noticeable bump in the right direction. So, next time someone says carbs are the enemy, maybe remind them: it’s all about quality, not carb-quitting.

Source: JAMA Network Open

DIY Diagnostics: Hits, Misses & Melatonin 

At-home testing is having a moment—but not all tests are created equal. Researchers found that kids with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder can totally rock a saliva-based melatonin test in their own dimly lit dens (yes, even with the fidget factor). Cervical cancer screening? A self-collected HPV test delivered lab-level accuracy, winning big points for comfort and convenience. But when it came to eyeing active neovascular age-related macular degeneration at home, vision tests flunked the accuracy exam—proving that not every app is ready for prime time. Still, the future of health care may just be knocking at your front door … with a test kit in hand.

Sources: Sleep, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Ophthalmology

Sipping Tea With T2D

Tea lovers with type 2 diabetes, rejoice! Researchers in China followed over 15,000 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus for nearly 10 years and found that sipping tea regularly—especially 4 g a day or more than three times a week—was linked to a lower risk of dying from all causes and cardiovascular disease (but not cancer). In fact, those with a long history of tea drinking (30+ years) saw the biggest survival boost, with up to 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 27% drop in cardiovascular-related mortality. Stroke risk also dipped significantly. The sweet spot? About 4 g of tea leaves per day. So, while your patients may be watching carbs, they can keep steeping tea—it's not just cozy, it might be cardioprotective.

Source: Journal of Diabetes

The intersection of medicine and the unexpected reminds us how wild, weird, and wonderful science can be. The world of health care continues to surprise and astonish.