Effects of running on knees and bone health (Read 1219 times)

Today I read in a local newspaper a medical editorial (couldn't begin to tell you the doctor's name (an orthopedic) who was from Toronto) who slammed baby-boomers' facination with fitness and that we are "disasters waiting to happen." This doctor told of all kinds of instances of runners in their 50's who he's treated for knee replacements and other injuries. He then threw out some astronomical dollar amount that we spend on baby-boomer injuries each year. The editorial seems incredibly biased and opinionated with no sources quoted. Does anyone have any substantive information or can cite any studies on the long-term effects of running? I am one of those BB's who started running way back with the first wave of runners around the time of the courntry's bicentennial. I've read every running book known to mankind and most magazines too. All I see are the old runners from the Bill Rodgers era gowing old gracefully still hitting the streets and enjoying every step. Where is the truth?? FOUND THE ARTICLE: Baby Boomers: Medical Problems Waiting To Happen

In his defense, he wasn't knocking exercise and staying fit, just running specifically. I do really want to see studies if there are any out there.

I agree, John, I want to see the sorces. Tossing out costs and numbers without backing them up always sounds and looks impressive and the average pleb will buy into it no questions asked. But I have learned that most stats are made to fit a point of view. For example: The gun debate. If you take the anti gun's view and use their numbers applied to time proven self defence then the good old USA would have been close to zero population 30 years ago. But most people just hear a number by someone who is supposed to know so they accept it as gospel. BTW My example is only because it is something I know about, studied and understand, so I am comfortable in using it. Not trying to debate the issue on a running BB. Try searching the newpapers website for the editorial then google the Doc and see what you find. I'd be interested in the results

I would rather die young doing what I enjoy, living a healthy lifestyle, then be sedate, old as hell, with dementia and having to need 20 caregivers to keep me alive.

*nods in agreement* That reminds me of this quote: The point of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, with a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, "Holy sh*t, what a ride!" Unknown

I hear that running is bad for your knees all the time and it's always from non-runners. I even hear it from my father-in-law who is a doctor, and a 40 lb. overweight golfer. To me this a matter of perspective and getting cause & effect backwards. I'm sure this orthopedist does treat lots of baby boomers with knee problems. And I'm sure many of them report these knee problems as "running related." That is, running is what caused the pain to become so acute that they went to see the orthopedist. But the real reason they had knee problems is because they had been sedentary for decades, were way overweight and then started running to try and lose weight, did too much too soon and their knees hurt. That's his perspective. I know many non-runners who have had knee surgery. I know many serious runners including many competitive masters none of whom have had knee surgery. That's my perspective. From my own experience, running is good for your knees. It makes them stronger, balances out the muscles that support the knee, strengthens the connective tissues and reduces knee pain. I have been running on and off since age 14 (I'm 36 now) and until age 29 or 30 when I started to get somewhat serious about it I always had knee pain--because the on-again, off-again nature of my running made me a chronically new runner. Since age 30 no pain. The more I run the better my knees feel on a daily basis. And as others have said, the money we spend on preventable diseases due to obesity dwarf anything we're spending on knee injuries to runners. To my knowledge nobody ever died of runners knee.

There was a little blurb in Runner's World couple of months ago. Some researcher did a study on running and knee damage. Instead of measuring the gap in the knee of runners and non-runners as a sign of wear, she asked them to rate their pains. The results said that more non-runners complained about knee pains than runners, and more non-runners have more intense pain. One may argue that it's not a scientifc study to ask subjects to rate the pain, since that's a rather subjective answer. But in the end, does it matter whether that's scientific or not that you feel less pain? The study does not say anything about whether running damages the knees. It doesn't explain why runners feel less pain. It could be that they feel less pain because they experience less pain, or they are just used to the pain and quit complaining about it a long time ago.

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I don't know the scientific studies. However, orthopedists with whom I have spoken have all stated the following: 1. Humans were meant/evolved/designed to run. 2. Running on healthy knees does very little damage if any. 3. Most running related knee damage results from running on knee injuries sustained from other sports (e.g., skiing, basketball, etc)