Frequent running not related to worsening of osteoarthritis in knees, experts discover. Reported by Joshua Uden

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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and many people believe that the problem can be made worse by running regularly. However, a new study suggests this is not the case.
Recent research presented at the Osteoarthritic Research Society International World Congress showed that people aged over 50 years old with osteoarthritis who ran on a regular basis did not have any increase in pain, or radiographic structural progression, over the four-year study.
The study included information from 1,251 people, all of them diagnosed with osteoarthritis and over 50 years old. A total of 138 were regular runners. Frequency of knee pain was assessed and radiographs were done at the start of the study and four years later.
Analysis of the data showed that running was not associated with new knee pain, joint space narrowing or Kellgren-Lawrence worsening (a standard measure of knee osteoarthritis).
“Running should not be discouraged in patients with osteoarthritis,” explains Dr Grace Hsiao-Wei Lo, lead researcher. “Exposure to running is not associated with statistical knee pain or worsening”.

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Image credit: Running shoes Robert S. Donovan