Is it true that … running destroys your knees?

Do those who run have a higher risk of osteoarthritis? And what should you do if you start to feel pain? We ask an expert

You know the warning people often give middle-aged joggers: don’t run too much or you’ll end up with bad knees? “It’s very much a myth,” says Richard Blagrove, senior lecturer in physiology at Loughborough University.

While many believe that running is linked to osteoarthritis (chronic joint pain) in the knees, studies have revealed that recreational and competitive runners have a much lower incidence of developing it compared with those who don’t run. Research from 25 studies (with a total sample size of about 115,000 participants) has shown that running actually appears to be protective against hip and knee osteoarthritis as we age. Exercise causes very slight damage to muscles, tendons, bones and cartilage but also leads them to grow back stronger and healthier.

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