'Arthritis risk' for middle-aged exercise addicts

[steven johnson]

You know those rediculous exercise recommendations -- 30 minutes a day, five days a week? Well, you are going to screw up your joints if you are over 45 years of age. High-activity exercise caused knee damage seen on MRIs that was not seen with lower intensity exercise regimens.

The authors suggested that high impact, weight-bearing physical activity, such as running and jumping, was worse for cartilage health whereas low-impact activities, such as swimming and cycling, may protected diseased cartilage and prevent healthy cartilage from developing disease.

OK, now the exercise addicts can tell us how healthy their joints are.

Middle-aged men and women may be risking arthritis if they overdo their exercise regime, research suggests.

A US study of more than 200 people aged 45 to 55 and of "normal" weight found those doing the most exercise were the most likely to suffer knee damage.

Running and jumping may also do more damage to cartilage and ligaments than swimming and cycling, researchers said.


'Arthritis risk' for middle-aged exercise addicts

[paulsby]

1. this is absolutely true

our bodies did not evolve to even survive into our 50's. that's not how it worked a few thousand years ago.

also, fwiw, while weight bearing exercise is problematic for the reasons mentioned, it is also a benefit for increasing bone density. so, like many other things, there are tradeoffs. swimming (and i LOVE swimming . i'm a former lifeguard and lifelong surfer) is not weight bearing and does not increase bone density to any extent.

i recommend people minimize the high impact stuff. for competitive athletes (volleyball players, lacrosse players, etc. ) that's not an option , but from a FITNESS standpoint, it's a golden rule. heck, even when i was a runner, i tried to run on trails (woodchips are best) vs. asphalt or god forbid... concrete.

fwiw, of course those who do the most exercise are the most likely to suffer knee damage. it's pretty hard to injure your knee lying on the couch eating cheezy poofs ! :)

[Skittles]

2. 52, exercise an hour a day

my joints are just fine

[trotsky]

6. The study didn't look at "kicking ass" as an exercise.

It must be more like swimming than running.

[eShirl]

3. you have to learn how to exercise while protecting your joints

as one might imagine, low impact exercise is easier on the joints than high impact exercise

[JDPriestly]

5. Walking in comfortable shoes is great.

[Skittles]

9. correct

I do exercise videos and will modify moves I deem too hard on the joints - a prime example is "plunging lunges"

[sudopod]

4. LOL, what put a bee up your bonnet? nt

[Celebration]

7. the late, great Jack Kramer

I actually spent an evening with Jack Kramer over twenty five years ago. He could barely walk and was waiting to get a new hip. In the course of the conversation he told us his former training program for tennis--it had involved a lot of jumping rope exercises. Then he looked at us and said--"Don't do that! Look where I am now."

Fortunately we have things like cross trainers now and can get exercise without ruining our joints. Swimming involves infrastructure, and cycling can be pretty dangerous sans biking lanes. But, in any case, there are always options. Power walking (I don't do that!) isn't too bad on the joints.

[trotsky]

8. I have an elliptical machine.

They are great low-impact devices.