Sports, health & fitness often involve running. Most research suggest prolonged running with poor technique or practices can lead to a range of musculoskeletal issues, injuries, or pains. Due to that there is a lot of fear that running can make your joints worse, but an Australian study found running can actually be good for your back.
Per the study at hand, by the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition in Victoria. Researchers in early 2017 introduced a world first scientific investigation on running and its impact on the disc within the lower back joints.
The paper has investigated and compared a group of long-distance runners and a group of joggers and compared their disc integrity and contents. The paper concluded; those individuals who run have healthier discs.
What does this mean and what are the important points in this paper?
- The longer you run, the better the disc strength and lifespan
- The long-distance running group had healthier discs then the group of joggers
- The effect was greatest for the most problematic joints in the lower spine
- Physiotherapists and Exercise physiologists can integrate structured running programs as part of your individualised home or gym based exercise routine.
Want to know more? PROHEALTH PHYSIO & FITNESS are experts in exercise prescription and physiotherapy management for lumbar spine and disc related injuries.
[Reference] Belavy, D. L., Quittner, M. J., Rodgers, N., Ling, Y., Connell, D. & Rantalainen, T. (2017). Running exercise strengthens the intervertebral disc. Scientific Reports, 7, 1-8.