I've updated my blog at http://runningtowardsthefacts.wordpress.com/ .
You'll find new articles and information to help you run longer and faster, while staying injury free! - Dr C.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
More Support for Runners!
Want to live a long life? Run
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Mon Aug 11, 4:03 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who want to live a long and healthy life might want to take up running. A study published on Monday shows middle-aged members of a runner's club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run. Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, researchers at Stanford University in California found.
"At 19 years, 15 percent of runners had died compared with 34 percent of controls," Dr. Eliza Chakravarty and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Any type of vigorous exercise will likely do the trick, said Stanford's Dr. James Fries, who worked on the study.
"Both common sense and background science support the idea that there is nothing magical about running per se," Fries said in a telephone interview. "It is the regular physical vigorous activity that is important."
The team surveyed 284 members of a nationwide running club and 156 similar, healthy people as controls. They all came from the university's faculty and staff and had similar social and economic backgrounds, and all were 50 or older. Starting in 1984, each volunteer filled out an annual survey on exercise frequency, weight and disability for eight activities -- rising, dressing and grooming, hygiene, eating, walking, reach, hand grip and routine physical activities.
Most of the volunteers did some exercise, but runners exercised as much as 200 minutes a week, compared to 20 minutes for the non-runners.
At the beginning, the runners were leaner and less likely to smoke compared with the controls. And they exercised more over the whole study period in general. "Over time, all groups decreased running activity, but the runners groups continued to accumulate more minutes per week of vigorous activity of all kinds," the researchers wrote. "Members of the running groups had significantly lower mean disability levels at all time points," they added.
The team also set out to answer whether taking up running late in life would benefit, and whether people who stopped exercising began to pay a price as they aged. Most of the runners have stopped running as they reached their 70s, Fries said. But it was difficult to find people who totally stopped exercising. "Almost all of them did something else. They continued their vigorous exercise," he said.
People who took up exercise when they were older also improved their health, he said.
The study also showed that people cannot use the risk of injury as an excuse not to run -- the runners had fewer injuries of all kinds, including to their knees.
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Mon Aug 11, 4:03 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who want to live a long and healthy life might want to take up running. A study published on Monday shows middle-aged members of a runner's club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run. Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, researchers at Stanford University in California found.
"At 19 years, 15 percent of runners had died compared with 34 percent of controls," Dr. Eliza Chakravarty and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Any type of vigorous exercise will likely do the trick, said Stanford's Dr. James Fries, who worked on the study.
"Both common sense and background science support the idea that there is nothing magical about running per se," Fries said in a telephone interview. "It is the regular physical vigorous activity that is important."
The team surveyed 284 members of a nationwide running club and 156 similar, healthy people as controls. They all came from the university's faculty and staff and had similar social and economic backgrounds, and all were 50 or older. Starting in 1984, each volunteer filled out an annual survey on exercise frequency, weight and disability for eight activities -- rising, dressing and grooming, hygiene, eating, walking, reach, hand grip and routine physical activities.
Most of the volunteers did some exercise, but runners exercised as much as 200 minutes a week, compared to 20 minutes for the non-runners.
At the beginning, the runners were leaner and less likely to smoke compared with the controls. And they exercised more over the whole study period in general. "Over time, all groups decreased running activity, but the runners groups continued to accumulate more minutes per week of vigorous activity of all kinds," the researchers wrote. "Members of the running groups had significantly lower mean disability levels at all time points," they added.
The team also set out to answer whether taking up running late in life would benefit, and whether people who stopped exercising began to pay a price as they aged. Most of the runners have stopped running as they reached their 70s, Fries said. But it was difficult to find people who totally stopped exercising. "Almost all of them did something else. They continued their vigorous exercise," he said.
People who took up exercise when they were older also improved their health, he said.
The study also showed that people cannot use the risk of injury as an excuse not to run -- the runners had fewer injuries of all kinds, including to their knees.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
INTRODUCTION: Just The Facts
While I have been a physician for 20 years, I've been a runner most of my life. I started running in high school in order to train for sports, then running turned into a sport itself. I ran cross country, and track events. College and medical school were all about studying, so running turned into a hobby. Just another form of exercise. I ran an occasional 5K or 10K race, but nothing serious. But over the past several years, I've become more serious in my running and competed in multiple races of multiple distances. I just finished the 2007 Richmond Suntrust Marathon.
It was my marathon training specifically that planted the idea of creating a blog of medical and scientific running facts. As an emergency room physician, I see a lot of sports injuries, and am frequently asked for medically oriented running advice. While I don't have all the answers, my medical background affords me the opportunities to research fact-based information about running. I also have orthopedists, physical therapists, sports medicine physicians and the like with whom I can discuss my questions. There is an abundance of running related medical information out there.
There is also an abundance of misinformation out there. I read and hear so much unsupported advice, I wonder how the average runner can wade through the mire of old wives tales, half truths, and commercial endorsements!
- Is ibuprofen good to take when you have shin splints or stress fractures?
- Does lactic acid buildup in muscles cause muscle soreness?
- Should you concentrate on carbohydrates or carbohydrate/protein blends during intense exercise?
The medical literature has answers to these questions that just might surprise you!
___________________________________________________________________________________
{DISCLAIMER: The information contained here are intended solely for the general information of the reader. It is not to be used for treatment purposes, but rather for discussion with the patient's own physician. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of professional medical care. The information is neither intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given health issue, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. The major limitation of informational resources like this blog is the inability to take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the patient. If you have persistent health problems or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider. This web site does not constitute an attempt to practice medicine, and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for medical advice and answers to personal health questions. No e-mail questions will be answered.
Bottom Line: The information posted here is not to be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. The goal is to provide sufficient information so you are able to become a knowledgeable participant in your health maintenance. The primary responsibility of your health maintenance is with your treating physicians and you should only follow your treating physicians advice. DO NOT change your treatment plan on your own without consulting your treating physicians. The information provided is meant to educate you and your physician, so you can have a constructive, informative, and meaningful discussion.}
It was my marathon training specifically that planted the idea of creating a blog of medical and scientific running facts. As an emergency room physician, I see a lot of sports injuries, and am frequently asked for medically oriented running advice. While I don't have all the answers, my medical background affords me the opportunities to research fact-based information about running. I also have orthopedists, physical therapists, sports medicine physicians and the like with whom I can discuss my questions. There is an abundance of running related medical information out there.
There is also an abundance of misinformation out there. I read and hear so much unsupported advice, I wonder how the average runner can wade through the mire of old wives tales, half truths, and commercial endorsements!
- Is ibuprofen good to take when you have shin splints or stress fractures?
- Does lactic acid buildup in muscles cause muscle soreness?
- Should you concentrate on carbohydrates or carbohydrate/protein blends during intense exercise?
The medical literature has answers to these questions that just might surprise you!
___________________________________________________________________________________
{DISCLAIMER: The information contained here are intended solely for the general information of the reader. It is not to be used for treatment purposes, but rather for discussion with the patient's own physician. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of professional medical care. The information is neither intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given health issue, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. The major limitation of informational resources like this blog is the inability to take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the patient. If you have persistent health problems or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider. This web site does not constitute an attempt to practice medicine, and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for medical advice and answers to personal health questions. No e-mail questions will be answered.
Bottom Line: The information posted here is not to be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. The goal is to provide sufficient information so you are able to become a knowledgeable participant in your health maintenance. The primary responsibility of your health maintenance is with your treating physicians and you should only follow your treating physicians advice. DO NOT change your treatment plan on your own without consulting your treating physicians. The information provided is meant to educate you and your physician, so you can have a constructive, informative, and meaningful discussion.}
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