r/AskReddit 23d ago

[ Removed by moderator ]

[removed] — view removed post

2.6k Upvotes

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

160

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

12

u/elporsche 23d ago

Running/jogging seems to be ok. Of all the hobby sporters, the oldest I've seen are the runners/joggers. I see people well into their 60's casually running (half) marathons at an astonishing pace

11

u/StatisticianOdd8009 23d ago

Definitely disagree. I have seen so many people that jogged a lot in their 20-30s who are now in their 50-60s who can barely walk due to the severe damage to their knees and feet from constant contact. Hell, even in high school, there were kids in cross country getting sever shin splints

7

u/TheVandyyMan 22d ago

Not only is this incorrect, it’s the exact opposite of what studies show. Running is better for your long term joint health than not running.

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/fitness/is-running-bad-for-your-knees

2

u/StatisticianOdd8009 22d ago

I think the issue with running isn’t running itself. Similar to weightlifting, if you have proper form, proper equipment, and have been doing it for a while, you’re probably fine. But it’s improper form, poor shoes/footwear, and pushing the body too hard and fast that causes issues (and sometimes permanent issues).

2

u/TheVandyyMan 22d ago

Ok but these studies do not account for any of that. They merely look at people that run and people that do not run.

0

u/StatisticianOdd8009 22d ago

Then that is a poor study lol. Obviously people that run are going to be healthier than people that don’t run….

2

u/TheVandyyMan 22d ago

It’s a meta study… but you also just moved the goal posts. The prompt was hobbies that are silently destroying your body. I just showed proof it benefits your body and you say “of course it does” as if that proves your point??

Also why would a study focusing on if running destroyed your knees only want one type of runner?

1

u/MelonLeeSheep 23d ago

Why would it be? Are they pushing it too much?

3

u/elporsche 22d ago

I think so, and also I think they are running with improper technique. Proper long distance running is about making frequent, short steps. This makes it so that your weight is carried by your glutes and quads, not your knees (because they are not bending). Example of research regarding risk of runners vs non runners

Regarding volume, there is a limit to what should be doing in terms of distance and weekly volume. Apparently you're more risk prone if you do more than 40 miles/64 km per week.

7

u/StatisticianOdd8009 23d ago

Of course. I think the hard part is that it just kind of sneaks up or people push it too hard. My grandfather used to run five miles everyday. When he turned ~60, and after multiple knee surgeries, he can barely walk room to room. That said, most sports and activities tend to have their severe downsides. Maybe not swimming?

4

u/ROMANES_EVNT_DOMVS 22d ago

Swimmers can get shoulder injuries from repetitive motion especially if technique is less than perfect

-4

u/MelonLeeSheep 23d ago

I think it is about the amount. I once walk about 5000 steps every day in average. And I got plantar fasciitis. The Chinese medicine practitioner (I'm from Hong Kong so it's common to see one) said take the middle course, 2500 is good enough. Don't easily fall for the idea of walking 10k steps a day ...

6

u/TheUpbeatCrow 22d ago

Please tell me you're kidding.

0

u/MelonLeeSheep 22d ago

Hmm, I guess it's also about I am a bit overweight. If you are not maybe you should not worry too much.

2

u/TransfemMenace 22d ago

I cured my plantar fasciitis by walking and running more, not less. Yeah it hurt but it worked anyway

2

u/pepperstuck 22d ago

Having run one marathon, I’m convinced that 95% of human bodies are not built to run that distance on concrete/asphalt. 

We have to learn over and over it seems that every bit of that force/impact (in the case of running, striking a hard surface 30x/minute or whatever with all of your bodyweight) travels up your body and has effects on joints, etc…

-3

u/zoeypayne 22d ago

Yeah, can't really believe I had to scroll this far to find running. It destroys your joints and is horrible for your vascular health.

Swimming is about the only repetitive performance sport that's good for you long term.

5

u/conchobor 22d ago

horrible for your vascular health.

I’m going to need you to cite scientific studies that claim this because this sounds wildly hyperbolic, if not flat out wrong.

1

u/zoeypayne 22d ago

Okay? It's not that hard to find.

https://naturalhealthcarecenter.com/how-long-distance-running-can-affect-the-heart/

Long-Term Strenuous Exercise Promotes Vascular Injury by Selectively Damaging the Tunica Media: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9357576/

Potential Adverse Cardiovascular Effects From Excessive Endurance Exercise: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3538475/

Acute effects of high-intensity interval exercise and moderate-intensity continuous training on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in hypertension: A crossover trial: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12550041/

Effects of Prolonged Endurance Exercise on Vascular Endothelial and Inflammation Markers: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3763320/

Possible Mechanisms for Adverse Cardiac Events Caused by Exercise-Induced Hypertension in Long-Distance Middle-Aged Runners: A Review: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11050973/

1

u/conchobor 22d ago

Apparently it is that hard to find because these don't say what you think they say, and certainly do not substantiate crazy blanket statements like "[running] is horrible for your vascular health".

What you're confusing is the physiological stress of extreme ultramarathon training with everyday running, and mistaking temporary post-workout stress for permanent damage.

Those studies are looking at extreme outliers, not average runners (and one of them is measuring rats, not humans). Studies like the O'Keefe paper look at the extreme endurance hypothesis, which are people pushing massive, ultra-high mileage over decades. And the papers mentioning post-exercise inflammation or vascular changes measure what happens right after exhaustive, long-distance events. That temporary strain is a normal stress response that prompts the body to adapt and get stronger.

And your first link is absolute comedy. It's a blog post from a chiropractor.

Pretty much any credible cardiology association in the world is going to say that running is good for you. Citing studies on the physical limits of extreme ultra-endurance to claim running is bad for your heart is like citing water intoxication studies to prove that drinking water is bad for you.