Join Now!      Login

Whole Person Wellness Program
 
healthy.net Wellness Model
 
 
FREE NEWSLETTER
 
Health Centers
Key Services
 
Vitamin D Poll
Are you currently taking a Vitamin D supplement?
Yes
No



 
 

 Exercise and disk degeneration 
 
The following is one in an ongoing series of columns entitled Natural Medicine Research by . View all columns in series
Ray Sahelian Does exercise have a deleterious effect on joint cartilage or spinal disks? We do know that certain sports place undue stress on joints through sudden twists, bent postures, and excessive weight bearing. Several epidemiological studies have shown that certain athletic activities such as gymnastics, weightlifting, and soccer may lead to acceleration of spine degeneration. Do non-athletes who exercise recreationally also risk cartilage or disk degeneration?

Researchers from Finland investigated the effects of endurance exercise and power sports on disk degeneration in monozygotic male twins with contrasting lifetime exercise histories. The age range for these twins was between 35 to 69 years. The disks were evaluated with a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Twenty-two twin pairs were studied where one twin was a regular endurance type exerciser (i.e. running, cross-country skiing) and the other was generally sedentary. No differences where found in disk degeneration in these twins. A second group of twelve twins were studied where one twin was involved in power sports (mainly weightlifting) while the other was also relatively sedentary. In this second group, there was a slightly increased risk for disk degeneration in the lower thoracic spine, but not in the lumbar spine in the power lifters.

Comments:
Recreational exercise does not seem to pose any problems in relation to disk degeneration


References
Videman T, Battie M, Gibbons L, Manninen J, et al. Lifetime exercise and disk degeneration: a MRI study of monozygotic twins. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 29:10, pp 1350-1356, 1997.

Comments: Recreational exercise does not seem to pose any problems in relation to disk degeneration

      
 Comments Add your comment 

 About The Author
Ray Sahelian, M.D., is a popular and respected physician who has been seen on numerous television programs including NBC Today, Dateline NBC, and CNN, and quoted by countless major magazines such as Newsweek He......moreRay Sahelian MD
 
 From Our Friends
 
 
 
Popular & Related Products
 
Popular & Featured Events
2019 National Wellness Conference
     October 1-3, 2019
     Kissimmee, FL USA
 
Additional Calendar Links
 
Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness, Thinking, dimension!

Home       Wellness       Health A-Z       Alternative Therapies       Wellness Inventory       Wellness Center
Healthy Kitchen       Healthy Woman       Healthy Man       Healthy Child       Healthy Aging       Nutrition Center       Fitness Center
Discount Lab Tests      First Aid      Global Health Calendar      Privacy Policy     Contact Us
Disclaimer: The information provided on HealthWorld Online is for educational purposes only and IS NOT intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Are you ready to embark on a personal wellness journey with our whole person approach?
Learn More/Subscribe
Are you looking to create or enhance a culture of wellness in your organization?
Learn More
Do you want to become a wellness coach?
Learn More
Free Webinar