Physical Therapy in Greenville for Running

Q: Does running cause arthritis?
 
A: This is always one of the biggest concerns for older runners, especially when the knees start to ache with running. Epidemiologic studies show both positive and negative support for a link between osteoarthritis and running. Certainly, impact exercise, such as running and jumping sports, theoretically apply more force to the joints and can lead to degenerative changes. However, the direct relationship of running and arthritis is difficult to quantify. An MRI study by Krampla et al. showed that runners who had existing changes in their knees, such as meniscal tears, can develop further changes to their MRI following a marathon. This suggests that there can be some damage that occurs to the bone on a cellular level when there are pre-existing problems, such as a cartilage tear. However, the improvements with muscle strength and weight control, as well as adaptation of the joints to impact, may play a protective role against the development of arthritis. Until the verdict is clearer, it should be understood that running is one of the higher-impact activities that can cause arthritis problems, especially when joints like the knee already have a problem. However, there isn’t a clear reason yet that people should give up running, unless it’s really becoming a PAIN!