Physio Monthly Focus:
Reduced disability and mortality among aging runners: a 21-year longitudinal study. Eliza F. Chakravarty MD, MS Helen B. Hubert, PhD; Vijaya B. Lingala, PhD; James F. Fries, MD Arch Intern Med. 2008: 168(15):1638-1646.
Over the years the effects of exercise have been proven to improve health outcomes and well-being in people of all ages. The study we are using tried to confirm long-term outcomes regarding disability in later life and survival benefits of regular exercise.
The study included an annual questionnaire sent to runners at a running club in California since 1984, on all runners 50 years and older and a healthy control group in northern California
Results revealed that at baseline, runners were younger, leaner and less likely to smoke compared with the control group. Runners had a significantly lower risk of disability with increased age. 19 years after the study started 15% of runners had died compared to 34% of the control group.
The conclusion of this study is that vigorous exercise (running) at middle and older ages is associated with reduced disability in later life and notable survival advantage.
So buy that pair of running shoes and let’s hit the road…
