The benefits for mind and body

Running sometimes suffers a bad rap, often blamed for sore knees and ankle injuries, shin splints, back pain and more – but it’s not all doom and gloom.

“We know that exercise can help prevent many health conditions and improve quality of life,” explains Dr Francesco Ferraro, a lecturer in sport therapy and rehabilitation at the University of Derby. “There is no such thing as an average human being, so it’s not possible to predict the best option for everyone when it comes to exercise. However, depending on the specific circumstances, in order to improve overall fitness and decrease the risk of injuries, alternative exercise can certainly be used alone or in combination with running.”

Fascinatingly, new research has revealed the powerful effect of running on our cognitive health. According to a recent study carried out by scientists at Florida Atlantic University, running throughout middle age actually helps to keep your brain healthy by keeping your adult neurons wired. Interestingly, the evidence indicates that physical activity can delay or prevent cognitive decline of the hippocampus and adjacent cortices which are associated with learning and memory.

For the study, researchers zoned in on the effects of long