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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Q&A: Abdominal exercises and related info for runners

Posted March 31st, 2007 at 11:34 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

Strengthening the abdominal muscles is important for runners. One function of the abs is to counter the force exerted on the pelvic structure by back muscles in order to stabilize the pelvis structure and maintain an erect posture.

Running strengthens back muscles, but not abs. If a runner doesn’t exercise his/her abs to strengthen them, an imbalance can develop. Stronger back muscles can overpower the abs and result in a tilted pelvis, or forward hunch, when running …
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Does cycling cause impotence?

Posted March 2nd, 2007 at 10:18 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Running & Training, Cross Training, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

The greatest source of discomfort for cyclists is the nose of their bike seat pressing on nerves and soft tissues. For men, this pain brings the additional worry of impotence. Impotence is caused by nerve and artery damage. Exercising regularly helps to keep arteries healthy, so bicycling helps prevent impotence, as long as it does not damage the local arteries and nerves.

Recent studies show that three percent of regular male bicycle riders become impotent, and virtually all of them felt pain or numbness before the problem occurred. When a nerve is pinched or the blood supply is shut off to the penis, a man feels numb.

Men who ride with conventional bicycle seats and do not feel numb are not likely to be at risk. If you feel no discomfort when you ride, keep on riding and stop worrying. If you feel numbness, get a new seat.
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