Ask the doctor: Jogging and arthritis
I'm 68 and I've jogged regularly for decades, but I've developed a touch of arthritis in my knees. Will continuing to run make my knees wear out faster?Because of the force on the knees during running, many people think that running itself can accelerate the natural wear and tear on the joints. In fact, the medical research tends to show that running has a protective effect on arthritis. Studies of large numbers of men show that recreational runners have a lower risk of hip and knee arthritis. This effect is partly explained by the lower body weight of these men. Other studies that measure knee cartilage suggest that running may stimulate cartilage to grow, not wear it out.
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