Does Jogging Cause Knee Arthritis? Not At All, It Actually Prevents It
(CBS4) - You would think that all of the pounding your knees take while running would beat up the joints over time, causing an early degenerative arthritis. And some think the same goes for others who rack up the miles simply walking, or spending a lot of time on their feet.
Well, it turns out the opposite may be true, namely, that running protects your knees from developing arthritis. And so does movement.
Now this isn't the first time research has suggested that running is knee-healthy. But we thought the reason was that runners built up strong leg muscles, and those strong supportive muscles took a lot of pressure off of the knees.
But a new study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology shows there may be a second reason. Researchers analyzed the joint lubricating fluid in the knees before and after a run. What they found was that after putting weight on the joint, even with a 30-minute jog, the joint fluid filled up with a chemical that protected the cartilage of the joint, preventing it from breaking down.
Other studies have shown runners and walkers also have a lower rate of hip arthritis compared to people who do other forms of exercise, don't do much exercise at all, or actually spend most of their days sitting at a desk.
Bottom line: there looks to be a combination of two things that help your joints stay young if you're a runner, walker, or simply active. That is, strong muscles as well as a chemical reaction in the joint that is a one-two punch against arthritis.
So don't believe the myth that exercise causes arthritis.
All the more reason to keep moving and not letting the rust set it.
Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida
