The following excerpt hit the news yesterday:
ScienceDaily (2008-08-11) — Regular running slows the effects of aging, according to a new study from Stanford University School of Medicine. … > read full article
The story could be found in a variety of incarnations across the news wires yesterday. It’s interesting to me because it contradicts some of the arguments against a lifetime of running.
One of the “knocks” against running is that it will do long-term damage to the joints. At first blush, that makes sense. All the pounding would have to take a toll, right?
Dr. Fries’ study bunks that myth soundly. The researchers started their study in 1984 with a group of more than 500 runners over the age of 50, and compared them against non-runners over a 20-year period. Participants completed surveys every year, and death records were obtained from public records.
Results
- After 19 years, only 15% of the runners were deceased, compared to 34% of non-runners
- Disabilities occurred later in life for the runners
- Running was not associated with greater risk of osteoarthritis
- Runners are at the same risk of needing knee replacement as non-runners
Conclusion
The real conclusion is that a lifetime of being physically active pays dividends later in life. I doubt it would matter if the activity were running, swimming, cycling, or snow boarding. So go ahead and lace ‘em up.
