You may enjoy running while listening to music. Maybe you feel like it helps you run faster and harder. Maybe it just helps to pass the time so that getting some exercise isn’t so boring.
You are allowed to listen to music while you run, of course, but it’s also important to consider the risks that you face. When asked about it, one orthopedic surgeon strongly advised against it. Running is healthy, but he advocated for runners to keep the music off and just listen to the noise around them.
An obvious health risk
The surgeon called walking or running with headphones “an obvious health risk.” He noted that it was similar to trying to use your phone while you drive a car. He also said that doctors are well aware of this risk and that they see a lot of injuries stemming from it.
For example, he said that he had treated runners who were wearing headphones when they were struck by motor vehicles. Some of the accidents were fatal. Even when they weren’t, runners could suffer from devastating injuries that would completely alter the rest of their lives. They may not be able to run again, but they may also struggle with high medical bills, inability to work, a loss of function that makes it harder to enjoy their hobbies and many other such issues.
What can you do next?
It is still the driver’s fault if you get injured because they made a mistake, whether you were wearing headphones or not. If something like this happens to you, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation to cover your costs.