I’ve written about it before, but it’s time for another update! Sure, running can be linked to short and moderate term problems like tendonitis, but what about longterm wearing out of your joints even if you do everything right? That’s what THIS 2023 systematic review looked at.

The Study
This study is a systematic review, meaning the authors collected, analyzed and combined results from many of the previous highest quality studies looking at runners and non-runners to see whether running affects the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The review included 17 studies with over 14,000 participants. Knee health was assessed using imaging (such as X-rays or MRI) and patient-reported outcomes like pain and function.

Key results:
– Knee pain was reported more often in non-runners than in runners.
– Most studies found no meaningful differences in structural knee osteoarthritis (such as joint space narrowing or OA severity on imaging) between runners and non-runners.
– One study reported more bone spurs (osteophytes) in runners, but this finding was not consistent across other studies.
– Some evidence suggested that non-runners had a higher risk of needing knee replacement surgery than runners.

Practical Applications:

Our bodies are meant to move! This review shows that running does not appear to increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Running was not associated with worse imaging findings and may be linked to less overall knee pain compared to not running.

That doesn’t mean runners will not develop OA, but it does mean that odds are running is not to blame if it does. It also shows that there’s a chance that running helps to reduce general pain and reduce the odds of needing replacement down the road.

There are obviously many caveats to this- such as if you currently have severe OA it’s probably not a good time to start running. Talk to your health practitioner about this this research applies to you. However, what this review does tell us is the blanket statement of “running wears out knees” simply isn’t true!

If you have more questions, feel free to contact us HERE.