News / Columns / Rajat Chauhan

Rajat Chauhan

Rajat Chauhan is a Sports-Exercise Medicine doctor

Articles by Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Decoding the fuss around barefoot running

Minimalist shoes became popular because of the hypothesis that they led to reduced running injuries. After almost a decade and a half, what does the evidence suggest?

health

Updated on Mar 04, 2023 04:51 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | In Mewat, an initiative to empower young girls

SwaTaleem Foundation, which serves rural adolescent girls from marginalised communities in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, had an annual meet which saw girls run several races and learn to use running as a tool for empowerment.

At the annual fest of 5 KGBVs. (Photo credit: FilmArT)

health

Published on Feb 18, 2023 07:31 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Demystifying mindfulness meditation

A recent scientific study showed the importance of mindfulness meditation and its role in managing pain. Here is why these findings are interesting and important:

health

Published on Feb 12, 2023 09:18 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | A fitness enthusiast who bravely fought cancer

Rohit's incredible story — from being overweight to getting fit and enjoying the journey, to then battling cancer and running a marathon — needs to be told. So here it is:

health

Published on Jan 30, 2023 07:30 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Of pregnancies and active lifestyles

I spoke to two women doctors who are specialists in sports science about their pregnancies and the importance of keeping active. Here's what they said:

health

Updated on Jan 20, 2023 05:39 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Discovering the benefits of stationary bikes

Recumbent bikes isolate the lower body from the upper body, making it an excellent piece of equipment to activate one's muscles and help us get fitter. This is a lesson I've just learnt

health

Updated on Jan 16, 2023 01:16 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | A guide to running in the cold

Most people dread running in the cold. And when they do, they overdress and take shallow, rapid breaths. Here, I take you through the basics to help your run safely during the winter season

At all times, remember, the fear of something is worse than the adversity. Do these basics and you are good to go, no matter how inhospitable the conditions are. (Shutterstock)

health

Published on Jan 07, 2023 03:55 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | From overcoming Injuries to Pursuing Adventure

Through determination and perseverance, it is possible to overcome injuries and continue living an active, adventurous life. Setbacks should not be allowed to stand in the way of pursuing our passions.

Dr Mark Steven Woolley. (Photo credit: UpSlope Productions)

health

Updated on Dec 17, 2022 08:41 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | To optimise life, stop taking it for granted

Injuries are bound to happen, but they happen a lot more when we take things for granted. And when they do, besides being humble enough to learn from the incident, we must also have the right attitude. I share my experience

So, I've learnt my lesson. I’m literally and figuratively moving ahead one step at a time, keeping my eyes, ears and all other senses fully attentive, thankful for the gift of life. (Shutterstock)

health

Updated on Dec 10, 2022 03:56 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Running for empowerment

When young girls are taken out of playgrounds and forced into gendered family roles, they lose out on a lot more than the health benefits that come with sport and exercising, leading to long-term negative effects.

health

Updated on Dec 03, 2022 12:04 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Can full ACL rupture be fixed without surgery?

Once thought as the only route to fix full ACL ruptures, surgery may no longer be the only way. A new study suggests that no surgical intervention may be needed for some, but it's still a 50/50 gamble. And the biggest player is not the ortho or the physio, it's the patient. Here's why

health

Published on Nov 26, 2022 06:19 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | What the National Police Academy taught me

From marching and running to cycling and swimming, the National Police Academy trains future officers meticulously to ensure that they have the training, skills, and attributes necessary to be India's finest IPS officers. I got to witness this first-hand:

health

Published on Nov 22, 2022 07:06 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Why, to jump higher, we must lower the bar

Conventional wisdom suggests that extraordinary targets are only limited to a chosen few. However, this isn't always true. Is there then no way for rookies to excel in life? Yes, for even the best champions were once novices who started small and then achieved great things.

La Ultra - The High. ((via Rajat Chauhan))

health

Updated on Nov 12, 2022 12:47 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Balance — the simple key to a healthy life

Good balance helps you perform better in every aspect of a healthy life. Here is how you can assess your ability to maintain your body's equilibrium, and how you can improve it.

When most of our time is spent only on one leg at a time, balance becomes very important. (Pixabay)

health

Published on Nov 07, 2022 05:46 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of fitness | Returning back safely to running and exercise

Exercise and sports are good for you, but how do you return safely to them after a break because of injury or sickness? Here's the best way:

health

Published on Oct 31, 2022 09:35 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | The criticality of sleep to reboot our systems

Think of sleep as rebooting our “Central Processing Unit” to ensure greater productivity. When we haven’t had our 8-9 hours of sleep, the sleep debt keeps adding up, leading to injury and illness.

health

Published on Oct 15, 2022 09:57 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Do magic exercise hacks work?

Ever so often new research suggests how with the least amount of exercise, we can get the maximum returns. Then why is it that they don’t get adopted by the world? I explain with an example.

The soleus muscle is one of the two muscles that form the calf. (Shutterstock)

health

Published on Oct 09, 2022 03:45 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | The role of exercise in treating depression

According to several studies, exercise can treat non-severe depression just as well as pharmacological interventions. However, this varies from person to person, with varied degrees of mental health issues. I weigh in with a few doctors:

health

Published on Oct 01, 2022 05:59 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Can running or exercising kill you?

Do people, on rare occasions, die while exercising or running? Yes. Is that cause for worry? No. Doctors, professors, and yours truly tell you why:

health

Published on Sep 23, 2022 06:29 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | For kids, a manual for resistance training

In the 1980s, young children could do 6-9 pull-ups on average. Today, not many kids can. Our children are weaker than any generation ever before. Here's a guide to get them to become stronger and more confident.

The major concern for me is that children and adolescents with low levels of muscular fitness tend to become weak adults. That’s why we need to introduce today’s youth to resistance training. (Shutterstock)

health

Published on Sep 16, 2022 06:42 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Is resistance training bad for kids?

Most parents, teachers, coaches, trainers and even health professionals think that resistance training during childhood and adolescence is unsafe, ineffective and unnecessary. This false narrative must change.

health

Published on Sep 09, 2022 07:49 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Decoding the facts behind the much-hyped HIIT

While both HIIT and HIT are all the craze right now, it is important to understand why people move the way they do and the psychology of movement, which makes people choose this form of exercise over others.

health

Updated on Sep 03, 2022 11:42 AM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | Busting myths of exercising in the heat

We’ve been told not to drink cold water, pour it on our heads or sit in an air conditioned room right after a workout on a hot sunny day and that playing in the sun makes us stronger. Is that so?

When the body's temperature increases because of exercising, more so in hot and humid conditions, receptors (sensors) in the hypothalamus portion of the brain and also in the skin trigger a series of events that lead to sweating to cool the body down. (HT Gallery/Representative Image)

health

Published on Aug 19, 2022 08:43 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

The Art and Science of Fitness | The do’s and don’ts of exercising on a hot day

On a hot summer day on a long slow run, my body began to heat up. Had I not known what to do in those circumstances, things could have taken a turn for the worse. Here's what I did.

The simple act of pouring cold water on your face and drinking ice cold water quickly sends blood flowing back to your core and maintains the crucial oxygen supply to your gut, heart and brain, reducing the body’s core temperature. (AP)

health

Updated on Aug 12, 2022 06:02 PM IST

ByDr Rajat Chauhan

How can you avoid a tragedy like the deaths at the China ultramarathon?

The writer, a runner, sports medicine doctor and ultramaraton organiser, on the inherent dangers of endurance races and the need for strict protocols.

Rescue workers carry a stretcher as they work at the site where extreme cold weather killed participants of a 100-km ultramarathon race in China(VIA REUTERS)

sports

Published on May 25, 2021 08:56 AM IST

ByRajat Chauhan, New Delhi

How to tackle common running injuries

Even though the commonest pain areas amongst runners are heels, shins, calf and hamstring muscles, knees, glutes (buttocks), and lower back areas, you need to think of yourself as a whole, not just that painful part.

Representative image(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

sports

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 11:19 AM IST

New Delhi | ByRajat Chauhan

Running helps you live before you die

Runners are more likely to live longer than non-runners and unlikely to succumb to the two dreaded disease families, namely heart conditions and cancers.

New Delhi, Nov 14 (ANI): Children taking part in 'Run For Children' marathon in New Delhi on Thursday(ANI)

sports

Updated on Nov 16, 2019 08:43 AM IST

ByRajat Chauhan

Life and running after surgery

It becomes important to have some sort of a plan to get back to being active rather than being head strong and leading to a permanent injury.

sports

Updated on Nov 12, 2019 02:36 PM IST

New Delhi | ByRajat Chauhan

Ten tips if you want to start running

Get running with training tips, race calendars, coaching secrets, injury management advice and runner’s stories.

sports

Updated on Nov 08, 2019 02:46 PM IST

New Delhi | ByRajat Chauhan

Running doesn’t cause knee arthritis, not running does

For those of you who still dream to run, here is your chance to make it happen.

sports

Published on Apr 27, 2019 11:18 PM IST

New Delhi | ByRajat Chauhan

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Rajat Chauhan

Rajat Chauhan is a Sports-Exercise Medicine doctor

Minimalist shoes became popular because of the hypothesis that they led to reduced running injuries. After almost a decade and a half, what does the evidence suggest?

SwaTaleem Foundation, which serves rural adolescent girls from marginalised communities in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, had an annual meet which saw girls run several races and learn to use running as a tool for empowerment.

A recent scientific study showed the importance of mindfulness meditation and its role in managing pain. Here is why these findings are interesting and important:

Rohit's incredible story — from being overweight to getting fit and enjoying the journey, to then battling cancer and running a marathon — needs to be told. So here it is:

I spoke to two women doctors who are specialists in sports science about their pregnancies and the importance of keeping active. Here's what they said:

Recumbent bikes isolate the lower body from the upper body, making it an excellent piece of equipment to activate one's muscles and help us get fitter. This is a lesson I've just learnt

Most people dread running in the cold. And when they do, they overdress and take shallow, rapid breaths. Here, I take you through the basics to help your run safely during the winter season

Through determination and perseverance, it is possible to overcome injuries and continue living an active, adventurous life. Setbacks should not be allowed to stand in the way of pursuing our passions.

Injuries are bound to happen, but they happen a lot more when we take things for granted. And when they do, besides being humble enough to learn from the incident, we must also have the right attitude. I share my experience

When young girls are taken out of playgrounds and forced into gendered family roles, they lose out on a lot more than the health benefits that come with sport and exercising, leading to long-term negative effects.

Once thought as the only route to fix full ACL ruptures, surgery may no longer be the only way. A new study suggests that no surgical intervention may be needed for some, but it's still a 50/50 gamble. And the biggest player is not the ortho or the physio, it's the patient. Here's why

From marching and running to cycling and swimming, the National Police Academy trains future officers meticulously to ensure that they have the training, skills, and attributes necessary to be India's finest IPS officers. I got to witness this first-hand:

Conventional wisdom suggests that extraordinary targets are only limited to a chosen few. However, this isn't always true. Is there then no way for rookies to excel in life? Yes, for even the best champions were once novices who started small and then achieved great things.

Good balance helps you perform better in every aspect of a healthy life. Here is how you can assess your ability to maintain your body's equilibrium, and how you can improve it.

Exercise and sports are good for you, but how do you return safely to them after a break because of injury or sickness? Here's the best way:

Think of sleep as rebooting our “Central Processing Unit” to ensure greater productivity. When we haven’t had our 8-9 hours of sleep, the sleep debt keeps adding up, leading to injury and illness.

Ever so often new research suggests how with the least amount of exercise, we can get the maximum returns. Then why is it that they don’t get adopted by the world? I explain with an example.

According to several studies, exercise can treat non-severe depression just as well as pharmacological interventions. However, this varies from person to person, with varied degrees of mental health issues. I weigh in with a few doctors:

Do people, on rare occasions, die while exercising or running? Yes. Is that cause for worry? No. Doctors, professors, and yours truly tell you why:

In the 1980s, young children could do 6-9 pull-ups on average. Today, not many kids can. Our children are weaker than any generation ever before. Here's a guide to get them to become stronger and more confident.

Most parents, teachers, coaches, trainers and even health professionals think that resistance training during childhood and adolescence is unsafe, ineffective and unnecessary. This false narrative must change.

While both HIIT and HIT are all the craze right now, it is important to understand why people move the way they do and the psychology of movement, which makes people choose this form of exercise over others.

We’ve been told not to drink cold water, pour it on our heads or sit in an air conditioned room right after a workout on a hot sunny day and that playing in the sun makes us stronger. Is that so?

On a hot summer day on a long slow run, my body began to heat up. Had I not known what to do in those circumstances, things could have taken a turn for the worse. Here's what I did.

The writer, a runner, sports medicine doctor and ultramaraton organiser, on the inherent dangers of endurance races and the need for strict protocols.

Even though the commonest pain areas amongst runners are heels, shins, calf and hamstring muscles, knees, glutes (buttocks), and lower back areas, you need to think of yourself as a whole, not just that painful part.

Runners are more likely to live longer than non-runners and unlikely to succumb to the two dreaded disease families, namely heart conditions and cancers.

It becomes important to have some sort of a plan to get back to being active rather than being head strong and leading to a permanent injury.

Get running with training tips, race calendars, coaching secrets, injury management advice and runner’s stories.

For those of you who still dream to run, here is your chance to make it happen.

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like