Running is one of the most common exercises practiced by many people looking to keep fit or to lose weight. The benefits of running are well known and attested to. Running improves cardiovascular fitness and lowers the risk of heart diseases.
However, as more people take to running as a way of fitness living, there are increasing cases of fatalities from sudden cardiac arrests or brain seizures.
What are the dangers involved in running and are it benefits worth taking those risks for?
There is no doubt that running is one of the most effectively exercises for burning excess calories, it goes on to build cardiovascular strength which helps to further improve weight loss efficiency.
But what is rarely told to joggers is the fact that running is a high impact exercise that is bad for your joints and ligaments. This is especially true for obese people who are looking to lose weight through running.
Overweight people already have additional stress on their knees and ankles from their heavy body frame. To proceed with running exercises without first strengthening their muscles is one sure way to get injured. Furthermore, running exerts yet more stress on their joints and ligaments, pushing overburdened limbs into further strain and therefore damage.
Man’s bipedal design is meant for walking. Walking on two legs is much more efficient than walking on fours.
Conversely, running on fours is much more efficient running on two legs. Four sets of ligaments and joints cushion the impact of body weight while running much better than two. Even for a non-obese person, running causes significant strain on our legs.
Regular running routines, can wear out joints and ligaments much more quickly than usage from walking. Regular runners will find themselves beset with a great deal of joint pains and ligament wear problems in old age.
Running also places a tremendous amount of stress on our lungs and hearts. While this is good for building our fitness and preventing against heart diseases, there are dangers in overloading our systems.
The fact that running requires a large amount of oxygen and causes fatigue is especially critical. Fatigue makes it difficult for us to think clearly and clouds our judgment. We become less aware of bodily signals and our own capabilities. Because of this, some runners over stretch themselves, resulting in death from running.
Now that we are aware of the downsides of running, the question we should ask ourselves is whether the benefits of running are worth the risks? Exercise is an essential part of healthy living, but the downsides of not having a healthy living are aplenty as well. Each has its fair share of pros and cons.
So the real issue is whether you enjoy running. There is no reason for you to trudge your feet along just to keep fit if you don’t like running at all. Why exchange one set of woes for another when you don’t even enjoy the activity?
There are many other exercises out there that offer the same benefits of running. Balls games or other sports are also great exercises and are usually more interesting and fun. Instead of doing something you don’t like to keep fit, why not keep fit with an activity that you enjoy?
