Repetitive Activities, Like Running Don't Increase, Risk of Osteoarthritis, Study Finds.
According to a new study, runners are not more
likely to develop hip or knee osteoarthritis based
on how long, fast or frequently they run. .
NBC reports that osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and there is no known cure for it. .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the condition involves deteriorating
cartilage at points where bones meet. .
Less cartilage for cushioning
can cause pain, stiffness
and even disability. .
The condition impacts
over 32.5 million adults
in the United States.
Researchers at Northwestern University found
that repetitive activities like running do not
cause cartilage to deteriorate faster. .
According to the team's results, there was no association found
between running pace, weekly mileage or number of marathons
completed and increased risk of developing arthritis.
Runners should be encouraged by our
results. They refute the current dogma
that long-distance running predisposes
an individual to arthritis of the hip and knee. , Dr. Vehniah Tjong, orthopedic sports
surgeon and study co-author, via NBC.
We’re often compared to being like a car.
If you liken people to cars, intuitively
it makes sense that the more you use
your joints, the more you’re
going to wear them out. , Dr. Matthew Hartwell, orthopedic surgeon
and study lead author, via NBC.
But the joint is really an
active, living part of the body,
almost like an organ, Dr. Matthew Hartwell, orthopedic surgeon
and study lead author, via NBC