Source: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) (Now available on Twitter, btw); with a nod to BBC Health for finding it too.
An exercise study of those aged 45 to 55 of medically average weight found that damage to cartilage and ligaments was caused by those who perform high impact exercises. Shocking, I know. Knees were the most likely to suffer with running and jumping linked to more injuries than swimming or cycling. (Wonder where Aikido falls in?)
The “study” was in fact a questionnaire with MRI scan follow up for osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease involving small bits of bone known as osteophytes). Naturally the researchers advocate low impact and non-weight bearing exercise which is fine for what it is. Fortunately, I have a few more years yet to worry about such things so I’ll be in the dojo doing high impact and weight bearing exercise.
Personally, I was actually more amazed that anyone would subscribe to a Twitter from the RSNA than this groundbreaking research study. But that’s just me.
~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire