Running is believed to be one of the best forms of exercise and it is often recommended by many fitness gurus. Running helps increase strength and resilience as well as improves the person's overall health along with the conditioning of the body. On the other hand, there are many people, who question the relation between running and arthritis, as they are not sure if running could cause the condition or if it has the ability to prevent it. There are many ardent runners too, who wonder if running can eventually harm the knees, feet, hips or back. In fact, there is an old adage which says that running is bad for the knees. However, many of the rumors associated with the ill effects of running are nothing more than rumors. The truth is that running can actually be good for you.
Some of the main causes of arthritis are obesity, lack of proper nutrition or genetic factors. Research has indicated that running usually does not cause arthritis in people, with normal and uninjured knees. Joints that function normally have the ability to withstand a lot of wear and tear and can flourish in spite of it. In fact, running strengthens the ligaments and the tendons in the body, which means that the joints are more stable, leading to less wear and tear. The tendons and ligaments usually become more resilient to stress, which reduces the possibility of a sprain. This in turn reduces the risk of osteoarthritis during the later stages of life. People who suffer from arthritis can also continue to enjoy the benefits of running. For them, running with osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis, is also not dangerous as long as they run on a soft surface and wear well-fitting running shoes. The advantage of this is that it does not apply a lot of strain on the foot or the legs.
However, there may be a few risks associated with running, especially, for people who are older or are prone to fractures or joint and bone problems. At times, running could cause stress fractures and soft-tissue injuries, known as hairline fractures that are caused by the compounding of small cracks in the bone. Therefore, it is recommended that people with arthritis in their lower extremities opt for gentler forms of exercise like walking, instead of running or jogging. However, before taking up any form of exercise, it is best to consult a doctor.
answered by G M