Running can be good for osteoarthritis, says study

Runners with osteoarthritis should not be routinely discouraged from high-impact exercise, a study suggests.

Researchers from the University of Essex analysed data from 17,661 patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

It found patients who did high-impact activities like running or tennis were 36% to 48% less likely to need a total hip replacement over the course of 12 months. These patients were no more likely to need knee replacements, they said.

The authors claimed the findings "challenge the assumption that high-impact activity is inherently harmful in osteoarthritis".

Dr Bernard Liew, who led the study, cautioned that this was not a cue for arthritis patients to "suddenly start running", but more that they would not necessarily have to stop.

He recommended that they should "manage and adapt" around their symptoms and flare-ups, introducing short breaks when needed.

"There is a widespread perception that people with hip or knee osteoarthritis should automatically switch to low-impact exercise, such as walking or swimming," said Liew.

"Our findings challenge that assumption.

"Stopping all high-impact exercise as a blanket recommendation could mean people lose the physical, mental and social benefits they get from being active."

Participants were sourced from Denmark who self-reported their physical activity.

Researchers separated activities into low-intensity, moderate-intensity, high-intensity, and high-impact categories.

High-impact activities included jogging, tennis, skiing, acrobatics, ballet, heavy labour and backpacking.

Liew has a PhD in physiotherapy and works in the school of sport, rehabilitation and exercise sciences at the university.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.