“Modern Love”… (Of Fitness)

“I know when to go out… I know when to stay in….” (David Bowie)

Shanghai is the electric, turbo-charged, smokestack full, lightning paced, premium-brand, 21st century city I have loved calling home for more than ten years. You probably do too. Sure, the laowai will have a customary ache and moan about this or that and believe that everything is better in their home country, but really, most are having the time of their lives! Bellyaching has never been my thing and, with Ted Ligety-like reflexes, I’ve always swerved discussions of religion, politics and pollution. But lately the latter has become an unavoidable issue. Hoping the December blackout would just be a blip, as in all my time here I don’t recall anything closely resembling such levels, my frustration peaked recently when slicing through the air to Pudong airport in one of Shanghai’s finest Santana taxi cabs like an icebreaker, only to be grounded instead of jetting-off to azure skies of the deepest blue.

Pollution has been shown many times to reduce life expectancy. This might sound like stating the obvious, but in

order to make such a statement, many factors have to be considered: geography (obviously) as well as other factors such as socio-economic status and lifestyle habits. However, is there any proof that exercising in a polluted environment increases adverse affects? Well, the findings of several studies are damning – overwhelmingly so in fact. One study claims that exercising for 30 minutes is just as bad as eight hours exposure to pollution whilst at rest. Such figures are convenient for headlines and environmentalists, but have to be taken with a pinch of salt; there are too many variables to make such a claim. For example, your starting physical condition plays a part; do you have immune system conditions perhaps (either known or unknown)? Asthma, for sure, is a problem as it is easily aggravated by high ozone concentration and carbón monoxide. Other factors play a part too: scientists can’t agree on whether low humidity or high humidity is a greater risk factor, but most agree that higher temperatures increase problems associated with exercising in a polluted environment.

So, do you or don’t you put on your trainers and go out for a jog tonight? If you’re not planning to do any physical

activity at all, then most scientists agree that this is the greater of two evils. A sedentary lifestyle is the meaner, nastierlooking dark nemesis looming overhead blocking out the sun with special bloodthickening powers. Choosing when to go out and when to stay in though, is the smarter choice. I suggest hitting the treadmill on the worst days.

Jon Robinson is an Exercise Physiologist (not Personal Trainer) and co-owner of Spinback Fitness. www.spinbackfitness.com