Running: Not always the Universal Panacea for Health

“I went to the hospital and my doctor, who was in his 80s, advised me to stop running for the time being.”

Mr. A, 29, became captivated by running this spring. He enjoyed the freedom to exercise when he wanted and experienced a sense of accomplishment after consistently running 5km daily. “At first, I could only run for 3-5 minutes, but I gradually built up my endurance and eventually ran for 30 minutes,” he said.

However,a few months into his running routine,Mr. A’s enthusiasm waned. He began to question if he was pushing himself too hard,especially after experiencing knee pain. A visit to the hospital revealed a concerning diagnosis: “despite my young age, my knees show signs of serious arthritis,” he was told. This raises the question: how can the running craze, popular across all age groups from the elderly to those in their 20s and 30s, truly impact health?

Running that isn’t universally popular or effective for each person

Runners are a common sight today, filling parks, the Han river, and city streets. The popularity of running stems from its well-known health benefits. Regular running strengthens the heart and lungs, improves blood circulation, and burns a significant number of calories, aiding in blood sugar management. Furthermore, running strengthens lower body muscles like the thighs, calves, and hips.

Knee Pain and Running: What to Watch For

Kwon Kyu-baek, an orthopedic surgeon, explains that initial running pain is often muscle-related. However, pain on the outside of the knee could indicate inflammation of ligaments, presenting as a sharp pain that worsens when going downhill. conversely, pain on the inside of the knee may suggest damage to cushioning structures like the meniscus or cartilage.

Even mild pain that recurs with each exercise session shouldn’t be ignored, as it can potentially develop into arthritis. Kwon warns that untreated pain can lead to fluid buildup in the knee, with inflammatory cells attacking healthy cartilage. Without medical intervention,this can progress to degenerative or localized arthritis,impacting daily life.

[Image of a person stretching, with the caption: “To run, you need to have enough strength and stretching.”]