Injury

I am starting to think that our currently held beliefs on running and, specifically, running a marathon, are creating a new type of health risk.

The November 23 issue of the Austin American-Statesman has an article by Fit City writer Pamela LeBlanc entitled “Are slow runners ruining marathons?”. In it she refers to a recent article in the NY Times on the same topic. Here is the original NY Times quote:

“From 1980 to 2008, the number of marathon finishers in the United States increased to 425,000 from 143,000 … In 1980, the median finishing time for male runners in United States marathons was 3 hours 32 minutes 17 seconds, a pace of about eight minutes per mile. In 2008, the median finishing time was 4:16, a pace of 9:46. For women, that time in 1980 was 4:03:39. Last year, it was 4:43:32”.

She states that “making an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle is important, and having a goal like a marathon — whether you run it all or walk part of it — can help”. She then states that “proper training is crucial to prevent injury”.

And therein lies the quantum leap. I would totally agree with LeBlanc as she makes note of two critical issues – fostering active lifestyles, and doing so safely by preventing running injuries. But is it possible that the increased levels of participation – and the slower overall pace of the runners – combined with a high rate of running injuries, could actually be creating a greater health risk?

When I was last in this neighborhood, we were discussing the amazing adaptability of the human machine. Incredible as it may sound, human physiology and anatomy will consistently adapt to the world - and if unable to do so, will give us warning signs (such as pain) and then show us that it is unable to do so - by way of injury. 

Lest we forget, the body aims for homeostasis - which is, implicitly, "balance". So at any given time, we are in homeostasis and thus always "in balance" relative to the demands on the system at that given point in time. Homeostasis is a wonderful thing. Our cellular mechanisms are constantly seeking homeostasis. We are always trying to find a balance - between stimulus and response, between training and recovery.

But here's the twist ...

To live on planet earth, humans are constantly adapting to the demands of their surroundings. As I am always saying (to anyone who will listen) - Form Follows Function. Our anatomical form evolves depending upon the functional demands that we face. Throughout the evolutionary process, the human form has changed to allow it to better adapt to the world around it.

Let's take a look at a few basic examples. An astronaut traveling to the moon adapts to the inherent decrease in gravitational force by having less muscle mass and a decrease in bone density. Why? There is no functional need for these - and thus the body adapts accordingly. On return to earth, there is a gradual return of bone density and muscle mass. Why? Because there is a functional demand placed on the body - and it adapts accordingly. Form follows function. Along the same lines, the average sedentary American, the "couch potato" if you will, has become very finely tuned anatomically to deal with the imposed demands of "couch-potato-dom" - a perfect slouch into the big puffy couch and very strong thumb musculature for the use of the TV remote!