Scientists reveal what running does to your knees

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Runners are no more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the hip or knee the longer, faster, or more frequently they run.

According to NBC, scientists came to this conclusion after polling marathon runners. .

Runners are often warned that joints wear out over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, osteoarthritis affects more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. As cartilage wears down, osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness, and even disability.

Researchers surveyed 3,804 recreational runners who ran the Chicago Marathon in 2019 or 2021. They were asked how many years they had been running and their average running pace, as well as whether they had inherited arthritis conditions.

On average, the runners were just under 44 years old. They ran 27.9 miles a week at 8 minutes and 52 seconds per mile. Researchers at Northwestern University were able to analyze how runners' risk of arthritis varied with pace, intensity, and cumulative running history. There was no association between an increased risk of arthritis of the knee or hip and the number of years someone ran, the number of marathons completed, their weekly runs, or their running pace.

7.3% of marathon runners said that they had ever been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Nearly one in four runners said their doctors advised them to cut back or stop running altogether.

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