So it seems.

The Southern Utah Chapter kicked off its 2007-2008 lecture series on October 16 with a presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Joy on “Exercise Can Cure Anything,” held in St. George in the Washington County Library. Dr. Joy, a family medicine and sports medicine physician, was in St. George for the Huntsman Senior Games (www.seniorgames.net/), serving as one of the team physicians. She is director of the Utah Health Research Network (UHRN), a practice-based association of professionals linked by a shared clinical and educational mission.

Dr. Joy outlined the purpose of the UHRN, which is to promote research by developing connections between researchers and patients. The research projects benefit clinical practice and advance knowledge in primary care and population health. Citing her experiences with the volleyball team, gymnastics squad, and women’s soccer team, Dr. Joy shared some of the findings that are emerging. For example, reducing the incidence of ACL tears in women athletes is now possible by employing a different warm-up strategy. Her initial work at the Huntsman Senior Games revealed that senior athletes lose 50 days of active participation if they are injured. Keeping athletes and “weekend warriors” healthy and fit regardless of age is one of Dr. Joy’s passions.

Dr. Joy is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah.