Sport for Life - get wise and warm up!
People who take up sport or a vigorous exercise regime to fight the festive flab are being urged by a leading medical research charity to do it properly - or run the risk of developing arthritis in later life.
At the start of its winter awareness week called Sport for Life (January 2-6 2002) the Arthritis Research Campaign is urging would be keep-fitters to prevent sports injury by following a few simple guidelines - train and warm-up properly, make sure you've got the right technique - and don't overdo it.
"People who severely damage the cartilage in their joints in their 20s and 30s are at greater risk of developing osteoarthritis, particularly in the knee, when they get older," said Arthritis Research Campaign chief executive Fergus Logan.
"There's always a huge surge in sport and fitness activities in the New Year and we're not saying 'don't play sport' because overall it's beneficial for health - including
joints and bones. But sport and exercise must be tailored to people's individual capacity and age. Don't over-do it now because you might regret it later."
To coincide with the awareness week, the charity has produced a new booklet on Sport Injuries, which outlines the best ways of preventing a sports injury, types of treatment, and advice on how to stop an injury re-occurring.
It has also launched a fundraising campaign to raise £250,000 to fund its sports injuries-related work. The campaign has been kick-started by a generous donation of £10,000 by nutritional supplement manufacturer Seven Seas, which is supporting the week.
The Arthritis Research Campaign is currently funding work into a new type of cartilage transplant surgery aimed specifically at younger people with sports injuries. It is also funding extensive work into improving hip, knee and other joint replacement operations.
The Sports Injuries booklet is available, free of charge, from the Arthritis Research Campaign's booklet hotline on 01636 677775, or write to the ARC, St Mary's Gate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 7TD. It can also be downloaded from this website. Seven Seas has produced an accompanying leaflet called Ready, Get Set, Go - A Jointcare Guide to Diet and Dietary Supplements for Sport, which is also available.
