Davis EK J Okla State Med Assoc. 2004 Jan;97(1):18-21

Although physical activity has numerous health benefits, there are potential adverse effects associated with being physically active, ranging from those that cause minor inconvenience to those that are life threatening.

Most musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity are likely to be preventable by gradually working up to a desired level of activity and by avoiding excessive amount of activity.

Although there is no evidence that physical activity itself causes osteoarthritis, injuries sustained during competitive sports have been shown to increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Although serious cardiac events can occur with physical exertion, the overall benefit of regular physical activity is lower all-cause mortality.