You’ve likely heard — maybe even from a medical professional — that “running is bad for your knees.” But robust scientific evidence, including X-rays, MRIs, population surveys and long-term data, tells a different story: recreational running doesn’t increase the risk of hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). In fact, it may reduce it.

Debunking the Arthritis Myth

Despite popular belief, running isn’t a cause of OA. A 2017 meta-analysis in the Journal of Sports and Orthopaedic Physical Therapy found lower OA rates among recreational runners compared to sedentary individuals. More recently, Hartwell et al. (2024) surveyed 3,804 marathon runners and found no increased OA rates, even among those with decades of high-mileage training. Impressively, 94% reported no diagnosis of hip or knee OA, and m

See Full Page