Diet and Pain Management
February 8, 2018Running and Osteoarthritis
Does running actually cause Osteoarthritis?
You’ve probably heard that before from your friends, family, even healthcare professionals and fitness folks. It makes sense, right? We are always told that osteoarthritis is a “wear-tear” disease, a naturally occurring phenomena as we age. So it would make sense that the high impact of running hundreds of miles would accelerate this, and lead to osteoarthritis?
Let’s examine. The knee, like many other parts of the human body, has smooth, fibrous layers known as cartilage. These layers help the bones of your knee slide past one another when bending or flexing the joint. Cartilage acts as a kind of shock-absorber, giving the joint cushion from the impact of use. Cartilage is primarily made up of a protein called collagen, and is lubricated by mucous-like liquid (synovial fluid) by the synovium, a capsule that surrounds the joint itself.
Damage to this cartilage causes an inflammatory response from the body, leading to inflammation (as the body tries to repair itself). Long-term though, these inflammatory factors cause cartilage degradation. You’ve probably heard of a knee being “bone-on-bone”. That is the result of continued damage caused by inflammatory factors, and is universally known as Osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common arthritic disease state, and as you’ve surely been told many times, is the result of wear and tear that comes with the aging process. Therefore running, the ultimate “wear-tear” activity, has remained the primary culprit of OA.
While a host of studies have been done on this subject, picking apart correlation and causation can often be difficult, especially for those of you out there who aren’t orthopaedic surgeons…Long-distance running has been linked to OA for decades, but does the data back it up?
An interesting study performed by Dr. Nancy Lane and Dr. James Fries at the Stanford Rheumatology Department can help shed some light on the subject of whether recreational running over long periods of time causes or accelerates the development of OA.
The study followed 45 runners and 53 controls, aged between 50 and 72 years old, from 1984 to 2002. They evaluated each individual with serial x-rays to monitor any arthritis development. Most of the subjects showed little to no changes. In fact, the results displayed just the opposite. Those that ran long-distance did not display higher incidences of OA, moderate or severe. If anything, the runners showed LESS osteoarthritis than the control group (20% vs 32%). Now with a sample size that is relatively small, the statistical significance is slim. With a larger group, would these results remain? Biological theory suggests it would.
But why?
Just like any muscle in the human body, weight-bearing exercise increases tensile strength, and at least some activity is required just to maintain that strength. Tendons, ligaments, and yes, cartilage, display increased tensile strength in those that regularly endure weight-bearing exercise (in this case, running). The synovium actually requires regular activity to continue lubricating the knee joint as well.
These facts suggest not only that running doesn’t cause OA, but that it should decrease it. So get out and be active. Your joints will most likely thank you.
At Restore Medical Partners we offer comprehensive care for all joints, including cutting-edge innovations for the treatment of knee pain and moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Check out https://restoremedicalpartners.com/diagnosis/knee-pain/ for more details.
