In case you thought otherwise, you’re never too old to run. Even older adults can withstand a running routine, according to Adam Tenforde, a sports medicine physician at Mass General Brigham. Running is a safe form of exercise however old you are, reports Anna Lamb for the Harvard Gazette.
Tenforde himself loves to run. It’s his primary form of exercise. And, he says it’s OK to run, even if you hurt some after running. The question is only whether your pain goes away or worsens when you are active.
If the pain improves with activity. Then your injury is not terribly significant in most cases. If the pain worsens with activity, then you might be damaging your tissues and continuing the activity could cause greater injury.
You might also consider whether the pain you experience is causing you to change the way you move. That can stress and worsen other joints and tissues for the worse. If that happens, then you need to stop doing what you’re doing and figure out the primary cause of the pain.
Running should not affect your joints. When you run, your joints, along with your muscles, tendons, and bones all adapt. Running helps your cartilage stay strong.
You can run even with arthritis in your knees or hips. You simply must find ways to keep inflammation down. Talk to your doctor about the best way to do so.
It’s key to be doing physical activity so long as you can. Doing physical activity can help keep you being overweight. People who are overweight are at higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, among other chronic conditions.
How much running is too much? There’s not a lot of data. But, some believe that more than 20 miles a week increases your risk of injury. Of course, it depends upon the person.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Why exercise in the water?
- What counts as enough exercise?
- Exercise can help an aging brain
- Vigorous exercise found to ward off dementia
- Strength training promotes longevity
