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Understanding Running, Joint Load and Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints due to ageing. There is breakdown of cartilage over a period of time in all joints, especially knees, hips and spine, but also in the fingers and neck.
Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material coating the ends of the joints.
They play a significant role to reduce friction and act as shock absorbers. This is due to their pliable nature which can withstand different stresses.
With increasing age, the cartilage loses its elasticity and also wears down resulting in arthritis.
Cartilage reduces friction and acts as a shock absorber at the ends of the joints.
Pain, swelling and limping can occur with increasing arthritis.
There can also be loss of quality of life.
Deformity can occur, with knees and other joints becoming bent.
When the joint load exceeds the body's healing ability, there is cartilage damage leading to arthritis.
When the joint load exceeds the body's healing ability, cartilage damage can occur leading to arthritis.
Low dose running can be beneficial due to the optimized cartilage physiology, due to the optimal amount of joint remodeling and stress loading responses.
It has been proven that low-dose running at sustained, self-determined and systematic speeds, slow enough not to cause pain is beneficial in both preventing knee arthritis and also avoiding progression of existing early arthritis.
Sustained, self-determined and systematic speeds.
Slow enough not to cause pain.
Beneficial in preventing knee arthritis and avoiding progression of existing early arthritis.
Regular and fast runners can experience much higher joint loads.
Higher running loads can be associated with increased incidence of arthritis.
Casual runners experience 3X peak joint forces on the knee, but the dynamic pressure on pliable cartilage is not troublesome.
In regular and fast runners, this can increase by 6–14X also.
Joint loading increases with running intensity and frequency. The body's ability to respond to this load is an important consideration.
Alentorn Geli found an increase incidence of arthritis in high dose runner (13.3%) compared to low dose runner (3.5%). The incidence in non-runners was 10.23%.
Hence low dose running is beneficial against osteoarthritis than non-runners.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints due to ageing.
Cartilage plays a significant role in reducing friction and acting as a shock absorber.
When the joint load exceeds the body's healing ability, there is cartilage damage leading to arthritis.
Low dose running can be beneficial due to optimized cartilage physiology, optimal joint remodeling and stress loading responses.
Low-dose running at sustained, self-determined and systematic speeds, slow enough not to cause pain, is beneficial in both preventing knee arthritis and avoiding progression of existing early arthritis.
Hence low dose running is beneficial against osteoarthritis than non-runners.
Persistent joint pain, swelling, limping or deformity during or after running should be assessed by a qualified orthopaedic specialist.
— Dr Suman CPS
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Sports Injuries and Arthritis Specialist
VGM Hospital
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