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Run Through the Ages
Convention wisdom—and research, for that matter—suggests that older runners suffer more pains and injuries than those people not pounding the pavement. But a recent study shows that charging hard into your golden years may actually reduce your risk of disability later in life.
The Research
Stanford University researchers surveyed 284 members of a national running club and compared their responses with 156 healthy, non-runners.
- At the beginning of the study, runners were younger, leaner, and less likely to smoke.
- After 19 years, 15 percent of the runners had died, compared to 34 percent of those in the non-running group.
- Disability levels were lower in runners at all points during the study.
- Although disability increased in both groups over time, the degree of disability was significantly less in runners.
Bottom Line
The authors concluded that the findings support recommendations to encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity at all ages. In other words, keep running strong.
About The Author
Jim Brown – As a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com, Dr. Jim Brown draws on his knowledge and experience in health, medicine and sports.
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