Is running good or bad for your joints? Study searches for a definitive answer

The evidence that exercise can help to reduce the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis is overwhelming. This evidence isn't only gathered from robust scientific studies, but also directly from people of all ages who tell us howstaying active has helped them to live well with arthritis.However, the idea that certain types of exercise can be damaging to our joints, doing more harm than good, persists. This is particularly the case with running which, despite being a hugely popular pastime in the UK, continues to be the subject of conflicting reports in the media about its health benefits and risks. Thousands of people of varying fitness levels enjoy 5km parkrun events every weekend and demand for places in longer races like the Great North Run and the London Marathon is highly competitive. But if running really is bad for your joints, are runners at greater risk of developing osteoarthritis in the future? And do the wider health benefits of running outweigh any risks?Answering the question about running and arthritisResearchers at the Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis in the University of Nottingham have embarked on a long-term study which aims to answer the questions about running and arthritis once and for all. Over the next 15 years the study will investigate the effects of recreational running on knee function and the development of joint pain and osteoarthritis over time.Dr Kim Edwards, Associate Professor in Academic Orthopaedics, ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news