Can running cause arthritis? Harvard experts explain it with data

written in ethos He 11/16/2023 · 2:03 pm

there are different types ArthritisAnd each has different causes, such as wear and tear, infection, and underlying diseases, among other things, however, Is it true that running can cause this condition? Harvard University again has the answer.

According to an article published by Dr. Robert H. ShmerlingFormer clinical chief of the department of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing, There is already growing evidence that arthritis and running are not related.

Although there is no definitive answer yet, there are various studies that suggest the following:

in studies “The association of recreational and competitive running with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. shown like this Recreational runners had low rates of hip and knee osteoarthritis (3.5%) compared to competitive runners (13.3%) and non-runners (10.2%).

While another study conducted in 2018 concluded that the rate of hip or knee arthritis among 675 marathon runners was half the expected rate in the US population.

So can people run without fear of developing arthritis?

Dr. Robert H. Shmerling says the above research shows that Running is an unlikely cause of arthritis and may even have a protective effect.

added to The effects of running may vary between people, For example: obese people who run regularly have a higher risk of suffering from arthritis due to the stress that extra weight puts on the joints (although this has not been proven).

Remarkably, Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that usually affects older adults., Its main symptoms are: pain, swelling, reduced range of mobility and stiffness.