Council Member News:
A conversation with Council Member Edward Laskowski, M.D., Co-Director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

PCPFS News covered a range of topics with Dr. Laskowski from core strength and stability to outdoor activity.

PCPFS News: While we know most Americans aren’t active enough, it seems that even fewer attempts are made by people who are active to improve strength and stability, which can be particularly important for people as they age.  Can you share some general insights about the benefits of core strength and stability?   

EL: In addition to aerobic conditioning, strength and stability training are key components for the maintenance of overall fitness.  The best brace you can give yourself is your muscle brace, and strength training helps to protect joints as well as to optimize function in daily life and sport performance.  Stability training is vital also.  You need strong muscles for stability, but you also need specific stability training to get your muscles working together to stabilize your joints.   Stability training can take the form of exercises such as single leg balance for athletes and Tai Chi for older adults wanting to gain balance to help prevent falls.

PCPFS News: What advice can you give to the general public related to improving core strength and stability?     

EL: Technique is key with respect to strength training.  It's not "just do it," but "do it right."  Proper technique during weight training is crucial to ensure optimal benefit and prevent injury.  A good strength training program should consist of a mix of exercises that both isolate and integrate specific muscle groups.  When performed, these exercises should be controlled and smooth and promote muscle balance.  Core strength is important for the athlete as well as the "weekend warrior" or anyone interested in personal fitness.  The "core" is much more than just the abdominal muscles, it's the link between the upper and lower body.  A strong core is key for just about any sport or activity, including running, soccer, golf, tennis, basketball, football, and hockey.  Back pain is so prevalent in America today and core strengthening can help to protect your back from injury.

PCPFS News: Switching gears, June is Great Outdoors Month.  You are an avid outdoor activity enthusiast, which is something that the PCPFS is working with federal land management agencies to help encourage more of, particularly among children.  Did someone influence your participation in outdoor activities?  Any thoughts on how we can ensure people continue to utilize outdoor space for recreational and physical activity purposes?   

EL:  The first part of my surname, "Laskow", means "forest," so I think I was destined for the outdoors.  My dad loved to be outside playing sports and doing yard work, and my mom is a great gardener, so it was natural that I spent a lot of time outdoors growing up.  I believe it is important to provide opportunities for people to enjoy outdoor activity.  The Rails to Trails Conservancy is involved in converting old railroad beds into bicycle and pedestrian trails, an excellent example of utilizing existing resources and converting them into public recreation areas.       

PCPFS News: Studies have found that a parent or caregiver, someone close to a child can influence a child’s physical activity participation, which can include outdoor activities.  As in your case, adults who engage in an outdoor recreational activity were most likely introduced to some type of outdoor activity (hiking, fishing, paddling, camping) when they were children.  Can you share your experience raising your own kids?

EL: We love to do outdoor activities together as a family.  We have always taken our two daughters with us on outdoor activities since they were very young.  We backpacked in Colorado with the kids in child carriers when they were infants; their first big hike with us was a six mile roundtrip when they were 4 and 3 years old.   When they were young, we also took them biking with us in a bike trailer.  As they grew older, they became active participants with my wife and me in hiking, biking, running, snow skiing, snow shoeing, and rock climbing.  Being outside and being active is just something we do as a family.  After dinner, we often walk outside around our neighborhood and catch up on the day's events.  Plus, we now have 2 new puppies who are enjoying being active with us.  

PCPFS News: What do you feel is the biggest benefit to you when you do an activity outdoors?   

EL:  There is something special about outdoor exercise that uplifts our spirit and connects us with nature.  The sun has a powerful motivating force, and the fresh air and wind can be invigorating.  In Minnesota, winters can be rather cold and long.  We have found that the winter passes much more quickly if we can get outside and do winter activities such as skiing or snowshoeing.  You notice so many more wonders of creation when you are outside...  the animals, birds, flowers, and trees.  We've seen everything from elk to bears to foxes to eagles during our outdoor pursuits. 

PCPFS News:  You participated in the mountain bike ride with President Bush.  Do you think he lived up to his reputation as the fittest president?

EL:  It was truly a privilege to mountain bike with President Bush.  He is amazingly fit and an accomplished mountain biker.  I love to ride on the road and bike trails, but I had not done any previous mountain biking.  I definitely had all I could handle trying to keep up with the President on the wooded trails for 90 minutes.  President Bush "walks the talk" of fitness, and he is a role model for incorporating fitness into a busy lifestyle.

Council Member Activities
The Council Members were in Washington May 3-5 for a series of activities including a council meeting, awards luncheon with the United State Olympic Committee, and, as noted in our conservation with Dr. Laskowski, a mountain bike ride with President Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. (See below for the remarks the president gave prior to the bike ride.)

Lifetime Achievement Award
At the awards luncheon, the members honored three of the six inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) winners, Dr. Ken Cooper, Jack LaLanne, and M.B. “Bud” Seretean.  Judi Sheppard Missett, Bonnie Prudden, and Joe Weider will be awarded at future ceremonies in 2007, since they were unable to attend the event on May 3rd.

Community Leadership Award
The Council members also announced the Community Leadership Award (CLA) winners.  These 37 winners were selected by Council members based on the contributions they have made within their communities or organizations to promote more active lives.

The timeline for the 2008 awards has been altered.  Nominations for both awards are due October 1, 2007.  Individuals nominated for the 2007 LAA who were not selected will be automatically considered for the 2008 award.   Submitting a new nomination is not required.  CLA nominations are not reconsidered in future award cycles.  An individual is welcome to submit a new nomination.  Nomination forms and submission information can be found by clicking the respective links above to each of the awards.

Remarks of President Bush:
May 5, 2007 - Thank you all for coming. This is Physical Fitness Month, and I'm with members of the President's Physical Fitness Council. Their job is to encourage all Americans, young and old, to exercise.

I love exercise. Today I'm going to ride, with a group of friends, on a mountain bike. But the message to all Americans is to find time in your schedule to walk, run, swim, bike, to take care of yourselves.

I appreciate Mike Leavitt, who is the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for joining us today. He knows what I know, that if someone takes care of their body through good exercise, that it is--it's the beginning of really good health policy for the United States.

It doesn't take much time to stay fit--30 minutes, 5 days a week; 30 minutes of walking, 30 minutes of running, 30 minutes of biking, 30 minutes of swimming on a regular basis will help deal with a lot of health issues here in America. I have found that exercise not only is a good excuse to get outdoors; it helps relieve stress as well. And so, on behalf of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, I say to America, get outside, take time out of your life, schedule yourself, be disciplined, and exercise.