Jogging every day is good for the mind, body, and soul. By participating in this healthy form of physical activity, you’ll give your body and brain a boost. That’s why many people make jogging part of their regular exercise routine. However, as you get older, your body goes through many changes and exercise it can affect you in ways it hasn’t before. We’re here to share what daily jogging does to your body after 50, according to an expert, so you’re aware of all the pros and cons.
anyone who loves jogging or are interested in taking it up again, you’ll want to see what Perry Myklebyan ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert in ThisIsWhyImFit.com have to say about the benefits and drawbacks of jogging as you get older.
“There’s no debate about the health benefits of exercise. And that’s where the deal ends,” says Mykleby. Eat this, not that! “Proponents of aerobic exercise argue that everyone should jog or run. Others argue that resistance exercise is the best form of exercise. The debate becomes more nuanced when the discussion set is narrowed down to older adults. Should older adults start [jogging-—or continue [jogging]—After 50 years? These are the benefits and drawbacks of jogging after age 50,” she says.
Read on for more information, and then don’t miss out. 6 daily habits to recover muscle mass after 60, says a fitness expert.
Jogging has stellar cardiorespiratory benefits.
As you get older, it’s critical to make sure you’re taking care of your heart health. To do this, your regular exercise routine should include an aerobic or cardio-related activity such as jogging every day. As Mykleby says, “The clinical literature is replete with data supporting that aerobic activity is beneficial for anyone.”
Mykleby also explains that the exercise guidelines The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls for 150 minutes of low-to-moderate-intensity exercise per week, noting that “jogging definitely falls into that category.”
This form of aerobic exercise can improve bone density.
“Resistance exercise is most closely associated with improved bone density, but a study 2019 in Frontiers in Physiology pointed to improvements in bone density in athletes over the age of 50 who ran,” explains Mykleby.
This study looked at people who started their exercise journey after 50; not just fitness enthusiasts who’ve already run and maintained their exercise habits past 50. That’s likely why anyone concerned about their bone health as they age may want to maintain their cardiovascular regimen. /jogging.
Jogging can help prevent dementia.
Mykleby explains that a revision of the dementia reduction literature suggests that regular exercise is key to preventing dementia from any cause. Resistance training and aerobic training are some of the best options, according to the review, so jogging is a solid option for those hoping to use exercise as a way to prevent age-related problems like dementia.
Beware of unsettled surfaces that could cause falls.
Unfortunately, as you get older, there can be some drawbacks to keeping up the habit of jogging every day. Mykleby cautions: “In older adults, especially women who are more likely to develop osteoporosis, falls can be catastrophic. Jogging alone does not increase risk because it can be done on a track; however, most Most joggers like the idea of street or trail running, and these surfaces are not made for running.”
If this applies to you, Mykleby notes that seams in sidewalks, unevenly paved paths, and tree roots can cause falls. This risk increases if you are jogging when it is dark.
Older adults can sustain soft tissue injuries while jogging.
While anyone can experience sprains and related soft tissue problems while jogging, Mykleby reveals that older adults are more likely to sustain soft tissue injuries. If an activity is more intense or “there are more risks involved (such as uneven surfaces encountered when running on the street),” this increases your risk.
On top of that, Mykleby explains, “Older adults’ bodies react differently to Stretch-Shorten Cycle (SSC) of muscles than younger people.” Muscle strains and other soft tissue-related injuries are a common reality among older adults.
Knee, hip and spine problems could occur.
Finally, Mykleby points out that jogging every day could cause problems with your knees, hips, and spine. He explains: “Logic says that ballistic stress on the knee joint would cause problems and make existing joint problems worse.” Also, if you’re dealing with health issues like obesity or knee valgus (or both), then you may experience lasting knee pain and damage from jogging.
When it comes to the hips, Mykleby says, “Although it’s not as pronounced as in the knee, there are ballistic stresses in the hips. People who already have osteoarthritis or wear on the labrum would be more susceptible to further damage.” As for people who “already live with the ‘if, but when’ of hip replacement surgery,” Mykleby says jogging will speed up the process.
As for the spine, Mykleby explains: “Speaking from my personal experience, running is not recommended for patients who have had spinal surgery. The two surgeons who operated on my spine (one cervical and one lumbar) advised me to I did not run sprints or sprints. Non-ballistic forms of exercise were recommended.”
