Is running good for our joints

Is running good for our joints?

This is a no brainer really, i think that most folk know that the constant pounding of mile after mile of pounding the pavements is not good for us.  I work in an all ladies gym and have been involved in fitness and distance running for 20 years now, i am also a master personal trainer.

Lots of my personal training clients and class ladies tell me about their injuries caused by years of running, however i have been lucky and think i can still go out and pound the miles.   However since i left the forces i have stopped doing as much running and instead do resistence training and the odd session of high intensity interval or sprints.  This is because of what i learned on my master personal training course and other fitness courses, basically running is not the best way of staying in great shape.

I am 39 years old, just had my 39th birthday and i have noticed my fitness and body-shape is the best it has been in years.  Not only that my ankles have been creaking (making loads of noise and clicking all of the time) for about 10 years now, but since i have reduced my running and done more resistance training the noise had gone away.  I hadn't even noticed until yesterday morning, you see i ran to my ladies  gym, roughly 5 miles wearing my oldest running trainers.

And today the noise was back, walking around my house creaking like a rusty door i cant believe it.  It just goes to show too much impact does have a negative effect on our joints, however changing our training up and doing more weights gives us a better physique and gets rid of those joint issues pretty quickly. 

Some other benefits of resistence training

1. Its the number 1 marker for longevity, more muscle live longer.
2. When recovering fro an injury or operation your body repairs itself by breaking down and using the protein stored in muscles.
3. Muscle is directly linked to our metabolism, more lean muscle more fat burning when watching the soaps.
4. Muscle makes you feel great, and you can get away with eating more of what you want.
5. Too much running is a stress on our bodies, releasing the fat storing stress hormone cortisol.

Dont get me wrong

I still like going out for a run, and its something i will do for as long as i am able to but i will definately keep doing more resitance training.  Better results with less work, bring it on.