You’ll also get a good dose of fresh air if you run around your neighborhood or on the nearby trails. Are you aware of the risks associated with running for exercise now that we are aware of the benefits of this type of cardio?
You must ensure that running is both safe and effective, just like with any other form of exercise. If you don’t, your body could sustain a number of wounds or possibly lasting harm.
For instance, be sure to read the advice given by Dr. Matt Tanneberg DC, CSCS, a sports chiropractor, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and the owner and operator of Body Check Chiropractic & Sports Rehabilitation in Scottsdale, Arizona, regarding the risks associated with running for exercise. Before stepping onto the treadmill or the pavement, Dr. Tanneberg explains all you need to know.
Long-Term Wear And Tear
There are many techniques to make running considerably safer. Wearing supportive running shoes and clothing that will prevent you from overheating or feeling too cold is a good idea. Additionally, you can use a fitness watch to check your heart rate and stick to difficult but easy routes. However, if you’ve been jogging for weeks, months, or even years, all of these practices might not be enough to prevent specific health problems.
The joints in our bodies will deteriorate more quickly due to the frequent impact from “beating the pavement,” according to Tanneberg. “Running places a great deal of stress and pressure on our lower extremities, which can start to deteriorate the feet, ankles, knees, and hips over time.”
Short-Term Injury
You could still be at danger of unlucky injuries even if you’ve just been running for a short while. You increase the amount of physical activity you’re undertaking at a high rate and pace every time you jog or sprint.
Tanneberg claims, “More than the typical individual, runners put their bodies, particularly their legs, to use. Simply put, this will place runners at a higher risk than non-runners for soft tissue injuries, most frequently muscular strains, to the lower limbs.”
Overuse Injuries
You should be mindful of additional injury types because of the greater physical demand runners place on their bodies. If you try to accomplish too much in a short period of time, you could get into difficulty whether you’re a beginner or have been a marathon-worthy runner for years.
Running injuries of the “overuse” variety, such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and runner’s knee, are particularly prone to occur among runners, according to Tanneberg. The main issue with these injuries is tendon irritation brought on by the repeated up and down on the pavement.
Overtraining
If you love to run, try to incorporate it as much as you can into your daily schedule. You never want to overdo anything since nothing is ever nice in excess.
Says Tanneberg: “By definition, exercise imposes stress on our muscles, tendons, ligaments, and organs; as a result, our body will heal and grow stronger. There is a balance between “too much of a good thing” though. For runners who don’t vary their routine by include new things in it, overtraining is a problem.”
Muscle Imbalances
If you don’t regularly exercise in other ways, being a devoted runner can backfire. Tanneberg observes, “Running will strengthen the muscles in the lower body and the core, but it won’t have the same effect on the upper body’s muscle tone. Having this kind of muscle imbalance in our bodies increases our chance of getting hurt, whether it’s top-to-bottom, left-to-right, or front-to-back.”
Tanneberg advises trying out rowing, swimming, biking, or occasionally lifting weights in addition to jogging.
