This article is part of our Sports Injuries series at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield, NJ. For the complete overview, see the full guide:
→ Sports Injury Treatment in Springfield, NJ — The Complete Guide
This post is part of our complete guide to Sports Injuries. Browse the guide for more in-depth information on treatments, exercises, and recovery strategies.
Running has always been suggested as something to keep us fit and healthy. In Springfield, we see plenty of runners enjoying their daily jog or training for something else. Are there any other benefits though? Well, yes, it turns out that regular intense running can actually slow the aging process down.
How?
A study was carried out on 5823 people between the 1999 and 2002 and the conclusion was that those who ran regularly and under a certain level of intensity had longer telomeres than those who didn’t.
What does this mean?
The telomeres are the protective caps that are at the end of your chromosones at the cellular level. The longer they are, the younger your genetic age is. Typically they start at around 8,000 to 10,000 nucleotides long. As time goes by, they get shorter with each cell division and at a certain point, the cell actually stops dividing or dies.
This is effectively our cell age, kind of like rings on the bark of a tree.
With running, researchers discovered that those in the study group who ran at least 30 to 40 minutes per day, 5 times a week had gene expressions of up to 9 years younger than those who didn’t run. This is quite a significant finding and really shows that good runs really can help you stay younger.
This frequent and intense running really can help reduce the aging process, at least at the cellular level and goes some way to understand some of the benefits of running and staying fit at a high intense level.
At Back and Body Springfield, we encourage all kinds of intense activity and sport and we are here to help with any pain or injuries to help you get back to doing what you love most. And of course, to help you stay as young as possible.
If you have any questions on our treatment options in Springfield, please contact us, we would be happy to help you and see what we can do for you.
In pain? Want a tune up? Call us today (908) 325 – 3000. We can treat and help you.
Ready to feel better? Contact us today — most new patients are seen within 24 hours.

Dr. David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP is the founder and practice overseer at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield, NJ. A graduate of Life University Summa Cum Laude, Dr. Perna holds certifications in Active Release Technique (ART), Graston, SFMA, Neuro-Diagnostics (NCV/EMG), and Manipulation Under Anesthesia, among others. He is a Board Certified Sports Physician, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Volunteer.
A competing athlete himself — a 2x Ironman 70.3 finisher with a background in Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and martial arts – Dr. Perna brings firsthand athletic experience to his patient care.
He has treated presidents, royalty, diplomats, and professional athletes across MMA, baseball, tennis, and football, and has appeared on Dr. Oz demonstrating chiropractic therapies. His approach is diagnostic-first, combining evidence-based chiropractic care with rehabilitation to help patients get out of pain and back to full function.
Further Reading: Sports Injury
- Should You Have Surgery? Get an Unbiased Second Opinion First
- How We Treat Runners, Weekend Warriors and Athletes in Springfield NJ
- Lindsey Vonn ACL in Knee Brace for ACL Injury
- How Can Lindsey Vonn Compete with a Torn ACL?
- Top Injuries We See in Hyrox Athletes
→ Complete Guide: Sports Injury Treatment in Springfield, NJ — The Complete Guide
