Negative Consequences Of Jogging On The Body

Millions of people in the United States run or jog each year in hopes of improving their health, but up to 70 percent of those runners develop injuries, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Although there are benefits to jogging, it's important to understand the potential side effects in order to reduce your risk. By taking precautions and paying attention to your body's signals, you can enjoy jogging without needing a trip to the doctor's office.

Injuries

The pounding and stress from jogging can take its toll on your joints, feet, knees, legs, and back, especially if you use improper techniques or ill-fitting shoes or try to push yourself beyond your fitness level. Common injuries affecting joggers include knee problems, fallen arches, shin splints, pulled Achilles tendons, plantar fasciitis heel inflammation, metatarsal bone stress fractures, Morton's Syndrome inflammation and sesamoiditis, an inflammation of the bones near the big toe. Prevention includes ramping up activity gradually, stretching and also seeking advice from a podiatrist or sports doctor on proper footwear.

Menstruation and Incontinence

Female joggers may experience stress incontinence, a condition in which there is some urinary leakage during jogging. According to Stephen M. Pribut, DPM, up to 47 percent of active women may experience incontinence at some point. One way to help is to perform Kegel exercises several times a day, where you tighten and release the muscles in the vaginal and anal area. Avid female joggers may also experience lower levels of luteinizing hormones that can cause menstrual irregularities and even the cessation of the menstrual cycle.

Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis

Weight-bearing exercise is often prescribed for women as a way to help prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. But in certain women, over training combined with weight loss may actually contribute to osteoporosis. Likewise, people predisposed genetically to arthritis may see a speeding up of that process. To see if you might be included in either of these at-risk groups, check with your doctor before beginning a jogging program.

Pollution

Jogging outdoors during periods of heavy pollution can cause lung problems, particularly if you exercise during high ozone levels. A study published in the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" in 1992 found a direct correlation between ongoing inflammatory responses in the lungs of recreational joggers who were exposed to ozone and other pollutants during the summer months.

Runner's Hematuria

It's been known since the 1700s that blood in the urine, or hematuria, is common among athletes, particularly runners, with some 20 to 90 percent of marathoners having blood in their urine after a race, according to sports doctor Carol L. Otis, M.D. It occurs in both men and women and is caused by jarring of an empty bladder during running that bruises the bladder wall. The condition usually clears up within two or three days after resting and may be prevented by drinking small amounts of fluid prior to jogging.