07/30/2025
🚧 Concrete vs. Asphalt: What we think we know vs. what we actually know 🏃♂️💥
If you've ever noticed runners skipping the sidewalk to jog along the road, you're not imagining things — and they may be onto something. But is asphalt really easier on the joints than concrete?
Let’s break it down 👇
The belief:
📌 Asphalt is “softer”, so it's easier on the joints.
What the Research Says:
📌 Concrete is indeed 10x harder than asphalt.
📌 Asphalt has some give, especially on warmer days — potentially absorbing more shock with each stride
📌 Studies show only SLIGHTLY higher impact forces and plantar pressures on concrete, especially at the heel and forefoot.
📌 Injury rates ARE NOT definitively higher on concrete.
⚠️ One caveat:
Asphalt roads come with traffic risks and sloped surfaces, which can load one leg more than the other. So while the surface might be easier on the joints, it’s not always the safest place to run.
Takeaway:
👉 Asphalt is likely a bit gentler on your joints — but the difference is very modest.
👉 Running on varied surfaces (grass, track, trails) and gradually increasing your mileage are far more protective for your body than just switching to asphalt.
👉 You have a better chance of reducing injury by improving your running form, wearing supportive footwear, avoiding fatigue, minimizing ground contact time, and strength training to support your joints.
Your joints will thank you later 🙌
