How to keep running without tripping once you hit 50

The image last week of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wearing an eye patch and with scratches and bruises on his face presented a stark warning to all later-life runners. The bad news for runners everywhere is that you are more likely to injure yourself — whether through a fall or otherwise — as you get older As Philip Conaghan, a professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds, explains: 'The average rate of any running-related injuries, from twisting a knee to falling and grazing your chin, is about 50 per cent in a year, which means you have a one-in-two chance of sustaining an injury when jogging. A review of studies, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science in 2021, found the strongest risk factor for an injury was actually a previous injury — though the older the runner and the less running experience they have are key factors, too Apart from the risk of falling, the extra load running puts on tendons and ligaments combined with age-related physiological changes means older runners are at greater risk of injury. DOCTOR TIKTOK- Experts assess viral health trends This week: Sleep on your left-hand side WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA SAYS: A viral post shared by 'herbal practitioner' @holisticali claims 'when we sleep on the left side, the stomach and its gastric juices remain lower than the oesophagus, thus reducing heartburn and digestive upsets. WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA SAYS: A viral post shared by 'herbal practitioner' @holisticali claims 'when we sleep on the left side, the stomach and its gastric juices remain lower than the oesophagus, thus reducing heartburn and digestive upsets' THE EXPERT'S VERDICT: 'As the stomach's natural position is on the left, it's suggested that lying on your left side may help prevent the backflow of acid causing heartburn — but there are no conclusive studies,' says Dr Mohammed Khaki, an NHS GP in London.