So what about the C25K deniers?

[HolyTrier]

Hi everyone, a couple of weeks ago I sent up a bit of a wail having torn a calf muscle on W1R3. Thanks for your encouragement back then. Have put the crutches away now and getting physio to strengthen back up. However sooo many people have said running is bad for the joints and tendons: even venerable orthopaedic surgeons have been quoted saying running has a lot to answer for. How do you answer the nay-sayers?🤔

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

I would just say that it’s working well for me. I find from experience, those sorts of discussions rarely end up anywhere good.

[nowster Graduate]

I would say that medics should refresh their knowledge with the current research literature on the subject. There have been big advances in rheumatology in the last twenty years. Unfortunately ingrained attitudes take time to change, and arguing with someone like that rarely ends well.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

For every one . 'against' , there are any number of, 'fors'....there is a research that indicates that running has quite the opposite effect.

I would simply point them at myself... and refer them to my consultant who told me, I had great legs, ( I loved that ), and joints, and knees, and to carry on doing exactly what I was doing.

I'd send some of those folk this to read!

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

[Cmoi Graduate]

nowster 's right re the research, and if you do actually want to get into a discussion with the naysayers HolyTrier , this article might be a useful starting point: runnersworld.com/health-inj...

Or you could always try pointing out that sitting on the couch also has a lot to answer for... 😉

[Comte Graduate]

My physiotherapist recommended that I take up running at the end of year 2021 as part of the treatment of a very serious leg injury, a tear in the calf muscle for which I had to use crutches for about a year. Running definitely strengthens the legs and it has certainly helped me. The literature on the subject seems contradictory as some people say running damages the joints and others say the opposite. I suppose it depends partly on how much running one does as anything to excess can be bad.

Incidently, running is only one of the exercises I do recommended by my physio but this is not the place to mention this as I am still being treated for this condition.

[Hidden]

I dare say if you spoke to a virologist they would claim breathing is bad for you. All of those germs you suck into your body each day, it cant do you any good at all.

At the end of the day, regardless of if running damages or improves your joints, the other benefits have to be taken into account too. I was told that running improves bone strength, particularly important with women who lose calcium and bone density as they get older. At one time, it was recommended for girls to do a lot of jumping up and down as that was thought to help.

Although all exercise could be said to improve fitness, mental health and help with weight, other than a decent pair of shoes, there is no cost if you run outdoors. Joining a gym or exercise class is going to have a greater financial burden. It is therefore open to virtually anyone.

Any exercise done too excess, or done badly will do more harm than good.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Have you spoken to a cardiologist about running? Or a mental health specialist?

I suspect you'd get a very different answer.

The likes of heart disease and depression are far more of a killer than sore knees, ligaments, tendons or a broken ankle.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to John_W]

I think you might not necessarily get a very different answer (which may seem surprising but professionals are at least as prone to vividness bias and will have experienced cardiac events in elite athletes and the ways in which exercise is used by some with eating disorders). But that still wouldn't mean they are right.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to GoogleMe]

To invoke professionals and elites is a little bit of an unfair comparison IMO. Those types are riding a very thin line between being 'race ready' and injured - a lot of them are actually unheathly by many standards.

I'm sure if you ask a cardiologist if an unfit 62 year old should consider some jogging as a way to improve overall health, they'd answer positively provided there were no 'red flags' to consider.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to John_W]

Absolutely it is an unfair comparison - and that's why anyone who just says 'running' without qualification can be challenged to clarify what they mean (or ignored) It also depends on the scenario - are they 'butting in' or are they being asked for their blessing (for which they then have to take responsibility) (In my recent experience of cardiologists, for both me and my husband, they say very little!)