Saving Lives By Sharing Bikes

Cycling is cleaner for the environment & much cheaper than driving cars (especially so here in Singapore). Now there may be more reason to do ride your bikes to work.

In a paper published by Spanish investigators in the British Medical Journal early this month, they found that bike sharing (in 181 982 participants) can actually help save lives in urban environments.

After accounting for air pollution and traffic mortality, the authors found that bike sharing prevented the deaths of at least 12 people each year as a result of the exercise.  Annual carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by about 9 062 344 kg.

Reference
Rojas-Rueda D, de Nazelle A et al (2011). The Health Risks And Benefits Of Cycling In Urban Environments Compared With Car Use: Health Impact Assessment Study.  BMJ 343: d452.

* Picture from Flickr by Steve Caddy.

News On Running On Grass & The Paleolithic Diet

Two articles in today's Straits Times (300711) were discussed in our blog previously. The first article is whether running on grass can prevent injuries. This article is in page C18 under the Sports section. We've discussed this before, have a look here..

The other article is under the Review section on page A39 and it talks about why eating "rabbit food" (or plant based whole foods) may not help decrease heart diseases and cancer.

The writer did mention that the Paleolithic diet (based on published studies) can lower risks for heart disease. Here are the links for our article on the  Paleolithic diet here and here.

Battle In The Alps

Galibier
photo by Roberto Bettini

Cadal Evans pulling
photo by Sirotti

Andy attacks!
photo by Roberto Bettini

If you enjoyed yesterday's stage to the top of the Galibier, expect more fireworks on tonight's stage to the Alpe d'Huez.

Andy Schleck rode to a big win last night on Stage 18 of the Tour De France, attacking on the next to last climb of the day with 60 km still to ride and then hung on for the win. Cadel Evans did most of the work in the last 10km pulling along with him Ivan Basso, Thomas Voeckler, Frank Schleck etc. Alberto Contador who showed much aggression (and descended like a demon) in the last two days was dropped in the last kilometer.

Voeckler battled hard hung to to the yellow jersey by a scant 15 seconds at the top of the Galibier, (reminiscent of way back in 2004 when as a newcomer, he rode to the yellow jersey, held it for ten stages and held a 22 second lead over Lance Armstrong before losing on the top of the Alpe d'Huez). Tonight, he will face yet another big battle to hang on the the malliot jaune.

Andy Schlek is now second overall, with his brother Frank third, 1:08 min behind Vockler, with Evans fourth 1:12 back. Frank had a relatively easy day yesterday and we may see him ride well tonight to gain time as Evans will probably the best amongst them against the clock in the long time trial still to come tomorrow in the penultimate stage.

Will we see Contador explode tonight? He is currently 4:44 down, back in seventh and tonight will be his last chance to regain some time bearing in mind he is normally a much better time triallist than all of the other riders including Evans.

All will be made clearer after tonight's climb to the top of cycling's most famous climb- Alpe d'Huez.

Straits Times Article on Athletic Myths ST 090711

Myth No. 1 in today's article in the Straits Times under the Sports section on page C20 looks at whether static stretching before exercise is ideal for your pre-race (exercise) warm-up.

We've written on this many times before in both our clinics' blogs, have a look.

Stretching and performance

How necessary is stretching?,

Just one stretch can slow you down

More on stretching

My Patient Made It To The Top Of Mount Everest

My patient Rob first came to see in to see me January this year needing help with his neck and knee pain as he was preparing to summit Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world after missing the summit in his first attempt last year. 

Rob has reached the top of each of the highest mountains in six other continents and just "needed" Everest to complete his 7 summits collection. He made it on May 13 this year. He came to see me today and shared his photos. 

You da man, Rob.

Route to Everest

Ladder crossing

View of Lhotse- 8500m

South Summit

Top of the world

What Does Lady Gaga Have In Common With Tennis In Wimbledon?

What does Lady Gaga have to do with tennis at Wimbledon? Well, Bethanie Mattek-Sands is ranked just behind Venus Williams, but she seems to have surpass Venus in terms of outrageous outfits at last Thursday's night Wimbledon players' party. Her dress is designed by Lady Gaga's designer Alex Noble.

Venus showed up for her 1st round match in a tiny play-suit with golden hot pants and proceeded to quickly dismiss her her opponent Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanuradova 6-3, 6-1.

Well, I'll be following the results more than the fashion.

Nicolas Mahut and John Isner are drawn to meet each other in the first round again for a second straight after last year's incredible first round duel that spanned 3 days and finished 70-68 in the fifth set breaking multiple records with Isner prevailing.

*Pictures from Getty Images, EPA & Reuters

New Running Shoes For Our Defence Forces

In today's Straits Times (180611 on page B1), it is reported that our soldiers, navy and air force serviceman will all be getting new Asics running shoes. It has been reported that Asics was chosen because of its lighter weight, durability and better shock absorbing qualities than the previous Brooks and New Balance models. Selection was done  after trials done by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and its fitness and medical sections.

The podiatrist interviewed in the article was also quoted as saying that the models provided will be "customising the shoes to the individual's feet, forestalling tendonitis and heel pain".

As written in a previous post, there is almost no correlation between wearing proper running shoes and avoiding injuries. Read more here.

If you have been reading our blog, you woulkd have read that Sports Solutions has written on this since 2009 when researchers concluded in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that sports medicine specialists should stop recommending shoe's based on a person's foot type as there is no evidence supporting it. 

Despite no credible evidence by researchers mentioned in their paper, Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), the New Zealand Society of Podiatrists (PNZ) and the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) all endorse shoes by Asics. In fact, all the reccommendations made SMA, PNZ and the FIMS are because of sponsorship arrangements (Richards et al, 2009).  Is our SAF going the same way?

I have nothing against Asics, in fact I wore them when I started running a long time ago (my first coach recommended them). I sincerely hope that our SAF servicemen's injury rate will be reduced, let's see what happens. If only they know pain free running.

I have all 3 articles, email me if you want a copy.

*Picture from Mindef

References

Knapik JJ, Trone DW, Swedler DI et al (2010). Injury Reduction Effectiveness Of Assigning Running Shoes Based On Plantar Shape In Marine Corps Basic Training. AJSM published online before print June 24, 2010.

Richards CE, Magnin, PJ and Callister R (2009). Is Your Prescription Of Distance Running Shoes Evidenced Based. BJSM. 43(3) : 159-162.

Ryan MB, Valiant GA, McDonald K et al (2010). The Effect Of Footwear Stability Levels On Pain Outcomes In Women Runners: A Randomised Control Trial. BJSM published online before print June 27, 2010.