| Running - Good for Your Knees |
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If I had a nickel for every time somebody told me I shouldn't run so much because it will "destroy" my knees... Many studies have shown the benefits of running for both bones and joints. For example, those Sally Fields ads for Boniva, a drug that helps delay the progression of osteoporosis. Did you know the best way to avoid and minimize osteoporosis is weight bearing exercise? I came across an article today with yet another citation of the benefits of running on your joints. Yes, running can truly help your joints (assuming you aren't overtraining of course). You might enjoy the read: JOGGING HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT of many medical scare stories in recent years. It has been blamed for everything from sagging breasts to premature wrinkles and damaged joints, and has even been cited as a fast route to a heart attack. So it is astonishing to learn that some experts are now suggesting that if you make one concession to the post-festive fitness frenzy, it should be to take up running. Not only is jogging considered good for us because it whittles away fat cells, but it is thought to be helpful in protecting — yes, protecting — our joints. Scientists at Stanford University in California have recently carried out research which suggests that regular running can delay the onset of arthritis by 12 years. Professor Jim Fries, an expert in healthy ageing, and his colleagues at Stanford’s school of medicine followed 538 runners and 423 couch potatoes for 17 years. They found that only 5 per cent of the joggers experienced osteoarthritic pain during that time, compared with 20 per cent of the sedentary group. ... Injuries are more often caused by the shoes a jogger wears than by the action of running. “Most of the injuries I treat are caused by people wearing worn-out or unsuitable running shoes,” says Trevor Prior, a leading podiatric surgeon who treats many top athletes and football players, and works for UK Sport (formerly the Sports Council). “Trainers have a shelf life of 300 to 500 miles,” Prior says, “after which they lose their support and cushioning and need to be thrown away. You should make sure that you visit a specialist shop when you buy a new pair, as requirements differ. It is natural for most people’s feet to roll inwards (or pronate) when they run, but some shoes don’t compensate for this. If you wear trainers that cause you to over-pronate, you may be at risk of backache, hip pain and knee problems.              |
