Will Running Ruin My Knees? (Read 1596 times)

I would like to see more details. A problem with the study that I see. People that keep running for that long obviously have good knees, otherwise they would have stopped running. The guy that stopped running maybe stopped because his knees where bad. The article makes it sound that his knees got bad from stopping running. We need a much bigger study with better control and if possible some kind of blind (I don't know if this would be possible though). Personally I think running is hard on the knees... however almost every other sport is worse. Any sport that has lateral movement or lots of jumping is way harder on the knees.

Fact: 100% of runners die.

I have seen far worse knee problems in overweight people, specifically in my family most everyone who is 20+ lbs overweight has knee issues (arthritis) and those of us who are not have none. What better way to keep the weight off than running. Not very scientific, but works for me.

The bones of a thin person are the same size as an overweight person. Imagine carrying an extra 50# around and what that would do to your knees over time. Most of my extended family is overweight also and some have had knee surgery. Went to see Wall-E with my kids yesterday, and it is a not so subtle stab at overweight americans.

Cells are constantly dying and new ones being created.

Not knee cartilage.

Hi there, I love my running, but my right knee is giving me problems. One would think that I would stop, but, you would be wrong! I would far rather risk having to have a knee replacement operation in years to come than have a heart attack, or for my lungs to be in a bad condition so I will just keep on running. Its important to look after your cardiovascular system as well as your joints, and I would choose heart and lungs over knees everytime! Also, I agree with many others, the more I run the less my knee aches. Just make sure you have a good pair of shoes and keep running! Quads exercises, and inner range quad exercises will help build up the muscles which support your knees. I am afraid that once the damage is done, your cartilage will not regrow as suggested. Awful, but true.

So what is your opinion about those hyaluronic injections, Trent?

Not Trent but I am biased towards HA injections (Supartz) because I sell it. Here is an example of effects. My buddy is a runner and has knee OA since a college football knee injury (ACL). He is 38 and runs around 20 miles a week and has done a marathon and just did another half in May. His knee is stiff and hurts. I have told him for last 2 years to get Supartz. He went to doc about a year ago and doc said he was too young. I told him to go to another doc because there is no such thing as too young. The young are the best candidates. Mild to moderate OA is what Supartz and others are indicated for. When you are bone on bone the effects are much less as there is minimal joint space to work with. Anyway, my friend had the Supartz injections finally and was simply amazed. He was running virtually pain free with a few weeks and the stiffness was almost completely gone. He is about 4 months since injections and still doing well. The effects will wear off but insurance will cover the injections every 6 months. If questions, email me personally.