Dr Riccardo Di Cuffa, GP & Founder, Thyme.

I get asked a frequent question as a doctor, ‘Will exercise cause damage to my joints?’

This is an interesting question and has stirred up quite a debate in the medical world. Many studies have shown almost comprehensively that exercise is of benefit to you and your body.

However, too much exercise can also cause damage to the body. 

When we consider our joints, most people are concerned about osteoarthritis or ‘wear and tear’. Professor Alistair Hart has taken a particular interest in this area. He has been studying the effects on joints after intense training and exercise. 

As with all studies, there are limitations to the study, but the overall evidence is that contrary to popular belief, exercise helps to improve joint structure and delay damage to our joints. The advice is to exercise a minimum of 150mins a week and this includes running. This is particularly important as we reach our middle ages. The main culprit for joint damage is muscle weakness which will affect our joint dynamics and future health. It is important to understand that over 600 mins of exercise a week can increase your cardiovascular risk.

You are encouraged to maintain muscle strength with strength training and keep your joints flexible.

So the answer to that frequently asked question is: exercise regularly but not excessively at any age and try to maintain your strength and flexibility to get the maximum health benefits.