Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Maria Jose de Castro reminds us that the adaptation period may last around a month and recommends that sedentary people begin by alternating running and walking.
She also states that those not used to doing physical exercise are at 2.7 times higher risk of developing heart problems.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, February 3 2016: Outdoor sport is beneficial in a number of ways for our health, but it is important to bear a series of preventive measures in mind to avoid health problems. “The great impact and pressure running has on our body means that the best advice is to listen to your body to prevent the feared injuries”, explains Hospiten specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Maria Jose de Castro.
The doctor explains that in recent years sports injuries have increased in relation to the increase in the practice of sport, both at competition level and in patients practicing sport for pleasure, whilst there is also pressure for the athlete to return to active sport as quickly and functionally as possible.
Maria Jose de Castro warns that “among the many lesions that can occur in runners, the most common in the doctor’s office are inflammation in the Achilles tendon, runner’s knee, sprained ankle, plantar fasciitis, hamstring injury, patellar tendinitis, tibial periostitis, piriformis syndrome, among others, which are treated at the Hospiten Rehabilitation service depending on the injury with techniques including electrotherapy, kinesio taping, dry needling or manual therapies, as examples of the most important techniques”.
“It should not be forgotten that running involves a great deal of contact with the ground affecting the leg joints and the spine. For that reason, the first times the runner goes out, it is normal to feel uncomfortable and this adaptation period can last up to a month. So, sedentary people should begin by alternating running and walking, i.e. running for a minute and walking for 3-5 minutes. Gradually, they can increase the amount of running and reduce the amount of walking”, recommends the doctor.
“The weight of the person is also an important factor, because being overweight will unnecessarily punish the leg joints, so more moderate sessions will have to be programmed until the person reaches the right weight to be able to start running”, points out the specialist.
Cardiovascular problems
On the other hand, people who do occasional sport or at the weekends are at 2.7 times greater risk than regular athletes of developing associated heart problems. For that reason, the doctor recommends the importance of having a cardiovascular check-up for athletes, particularly if the person is starting to run at over 40-45 years of age. According to a survey published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), weekend runners are at greater risk of developing heart problems or of overloading the heart when doing physical exercise to which they are unaccustomed.
Finally, from Hospiten we remind you that when a runner suffers an injury or the onset of pain, he/she should stop exercising and if the problem persists in a muscle or joint, consult a Rehabilitation Specialist who will diagnose the lesion and arrange for appropriate treatment.