They say too much of a good thing is usually bad for you, and apparently exercise is no exception. A 60-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, discovered exercising in his early 40s, only to start overdoing it to such an extent that he ruined his joints. He reportedly exercised about 2½ hours each morning — walking, running and doing pull-ups — then swam for about 2 hours, followed by 800 sit-ups and push-ups, and played badminton to top it all off. After 20 years, he began having severe pain in his joints. The fitness fanatic’s family finally took him to an orthopedist, who diagnosed him with severe degenerative arthritis, hyperplasia, and degeneration of the elbow joint, all caused by excessive exercise. Doctors remind the public that exercise should be moderate and people should begin with easy exercises and find a sport they enjoy. For most people, exercising 3-5 times a week for 1-1½ hours is optimal.
