Running Towards a Healthier Version of You!
Running Towards a Healthier Version of You!
The weather is nicer, and runners are everywhere in the beautiful Okanagan outdoors. If you wish you were one of them, good news – it is never too late to start something new!
Even a little bit of running is better for your health than not running at all! Research shows that you can achieve health benefits from running even just once a week or 50 minutes a week.1 Did you know that running reduces your risk of death from cardiovascular disease (for example, from a heart attack or stroke) by 30%?!1
Recreational running can improve your mood, and has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress.2
Running is also often perceived as bad for your knees. However, a recent article that looked at 43 MRI studies found no evidence that running causes damage to knee cartilage.3 In fact, other studies show that recreational running may actually be beneficial for long-term joint health!4,5
Talk with your healthcare professional before making a running plan, especially if you have a medical condition or have not exercised in a long time. Your healthcare professional will help you come up with an appropriate running program for you.
Even if you are a beginner runner, a running assessment can help you get started on the right foot. Sun City Physiotherapy offers running assessments that include video analysis and professional, research-based advice on running technique, exercises, and footwear. Our running assessments last one hour and include an initial treatment plan that is personalized to your needs! Come see our running-certified physiotherapist Bea Francisco at our Lower Mission and Lake Country (select Fridays only) locations.
About Bea Francisco, our running-certified Registered Physiotherapist:
Bea obtained a Master’s of Physical Therapy from the University of British Columbia and has taken post-graduate training in assessing and treating runners from The Running Clinic™. A former high performance athlete, she now loves running for fun and helping other run faster and injury-free!
References
- Pedisic et al. Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br. J. Sports Med. 2019; 54:898-905.
- Pereira et al. Systematic Review of Psychological and Behavioural Correlates of Recreational Running. Front. Psychol. 2021; 12:624783.
- Khan et al. The Influence of Running on Lower Limb Cartilage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2022; 52(1):55-74.
- Alentorn-Geli et al. The Association of Recreational and Competitive Running With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther. 2017; 47(6)373-390.
- Timmins et al. Running and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2017; 45(6):1447-1457.

Bea recently moved to Kelowna from Vancouver where she grew up playing all kinds of sports, including field hockey for UBC and the Canadian national team. A firm believer of “exercise is medicine”, Bea is excited to help clients achieve healthier versions of themselves through movement and exercise! Bea has taken post-graduate training in hands-on treatment methods and assessing/treating runners. She has also worked as a personal trainer and sports coach with clients of all ages and abilities, ranging from weekend warriors to high performance athletes. Her treatment approach involves empowering clients with education based on the latest research, personalized exercise prescription, and hands-on therapy. Outside of the clinic, Bea enjoys exploring the outdoors – whether it be running, cycling, hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing!