06/05/2025
A Survey of 3804 Marathon Runners from the 2019 and 2021 Chicago Marathons investigated the relationship between long-distance running and the development of hip and knee osteoarthritis.
The study concluded that there is no significant association between cumulative running history and the risk of developing hip or knee arthritis.
Instead, factors like advancing age, higher body mass index (BMI), previous joint injuries or surgeries, and a family history of arthritis were identified as more significant risk factors.
These findings suggest that recreational long-distance running does not inherently increase the risk of hip or knee osteoarthritis, challenging the common belief that running is detrimental to joint health and the idea of "wear and tear."
