Why is sport bad for your health?

Most of us know that sport is good for the body. It helps the heart, improves mood, and keeps us strong. But when sport is taken too far—or done in the wrong way—it can actually harm your health. Professional athletes and people who push their limits often discover the painful side of sport: heart problems, worn-out joints, or long-term injuries.

This article explains in simple terms why sport can sometimes be “bad” for you, and how the right balance can keep you active and safe.

1. When Too Much Sport Hurts the Heart

Endurance Sports and Heart Stress

Running a marathon or an ultra-trail race is an amazing achievement. But doing this again and again over many years can stress the heart. Some studies show that endurance athletes are more likely to develop irregular heartbeats (called arrhythmias) or small scars in the heart muscle [1][2].

This doesn’t mean running is bad. It means too much, too often, without enough recovery may increase long-term risks.

2. Joints and Muscles Pay the Price

Everyday Injuries vs. Wear and Tear

Sports like football, basketball, tennis, or weightlifting put big pressure on joints. Knee ligaments (like the ACL), the shoulder, or the ankle are often injured. Even if an injury heals, the joint can wear down faster over time.

Early Osteoarthritis in Athletes

Professional athletes have a higher risk of getting arthritis in the knees, hips, or ankles much earlier than normal [5][6]. Years of repeated stress—running, jumping, tackling—cause cartilage to break down. The result: pain, stiffness, and sometimes the need for surgery at a young age.

3. Contact Sports and the Brain

Sports like rugby, boxing, or American football bring another risk: head injuries. Repeated concussions don’t just cause short-term headaches. They can also lead to long-term memory and concentration problems [4]. In some athletes, brain damage only appears years later.

4. Sport: Good in the Right Dose

Here’s the key message:

• Moderate sport = good for you.

• Extreme sport or professional levels = higher risks.

Walking, swimming, cycling, or gym training 3–5 times a week is excellent for health. Problems mostly come when intensity and frequency are too high, or when recovery is not respected.

5. How Physiotherapy Helps You Stay Safe

At Studio On. Physiotherapy in Phnom Penh, we help people keep the good side of sport—without the bad.

• We treat injuries and restore mobility with hands-on therapy.

• We guide you through safe strengthening programs, adapted to your body and your goals.

• We educate patients about healthy training loads and how to prevent problems.

👉 Sport should not destroy your body. With the right guidance, you can stay active, strong, and pain-free.

I provide structured and evidence-based online physiotherapy for patients worldwide, offering clinical assessment, diagnosis, and personalised rehabilitation.

I also receive patients in person at my physiotherapy clinic in Phnom Penh.

You can begin your online physiotherapy session through the dedicated platform:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy

More information on clinical standards and supporting evidence is available here:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy-clinical-evidence

Yannick Sarton, MSc Physiotherapist

International Online Physiotherapy & In-Clinic Care, Phnom Penh

Sharma S, Merghani A, Mont L. Exercise and the heart: the good, the bad, and the ugly. European Heart Journal. 2015;36(23):1445-1453. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv090

Loma-Osorio P, Fitzgerald GK, Ruiz-Casares J, et al. Early osteoarthritis in professional athletes: prevalence, mechanisms, and long-term outcomes. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2018;48(4):239-246. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.8105

McKee AC, Stein TD, Kiernan PT, et al. The spectrum of disease in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Brain. 2015;138(8):2486-2500. doi:10.1093/brain/awv189