What are the odds of inflicting severe damage to one's knees over the course of several years of running? And how would one go about minimizing this, short of giving it up?
What are the odds of inflicting severe damage to one's knees over the course of several years of running? And how would one go about minimizing this, short of giving it up?
Running does not damage one's knees as long as it is done smartly. It can only strengthen them. Knee damage from running is a myth. Similarly, it is a myth that wearing a moderately heavy backpack is bad for one's back. As long as one is using all of the straps and support braces wearing a backpack can only help the back by making it stronger.
AS a guy who has run for over 45 years and only has 1 knee that works I would have to disagree with you.
I tore my ACL running in a straight line on a track.
We cannot conclude anything from your example. It is entirely possible that, had you not been a runner, you would have torn your ACL earlier in your life, say stepping off a sidewalk or running to catch a bus. Also being overweight (not saying you are) is much more damaging to the knee then running.
Ray wrote:
AS a guy who has run for over 45 years and only has 1 knee that works I would have to disagree with you.
I tore my ACL running in a straight line on a track.
No myth. Running has worn out my knees. End of story
Who is more likely to have knee problems when he's 60?
Contestant #1
http://optimaltraining.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/06/ryan_hall_houston.jpg
or
Contestant #2
http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/contestants/current_cast/daniel/
adddf wrote:
Running does not damage one's knees as long as it is done smartly. It can only strengthen them. Knee damage from running is a myth.
Agreed. I have been running all my life and my knees are fine. The cartlidge in competitive runner's knees is 3 to 4 times as thick and strong as the none running population.
There is no single answer to this. I know runners my age or younger who has given up due to knee problems and when people learn that I run, they always ask about my knees. The knees are fine - the hamstrings are a pain lately, though. I see a lot of people getting knee replacements and I know they never ran a step they could possibly avoid.
Personally, I follow the use-it-or-lose-it philosophy.
knees still fine. running 40-50 mpw. figure the lower weight/body fat helps.
adddf wrote:
Running does not damage one's knees as long as it is done smartly. It can only strengthen them. Knee damage from running is a myth. Similarly, it is a myth that wearing a moderately heavy backpack is bad for one's back. As long as one is using all of the straps and support braces wearing a backpack can only help the back by making it stronger.
You are completely wrong. Many problems can be caused by running without an individual having any inherent structural abnormalities. In many cases it depends purely on the individual.
Funny you should ask. I just saw this today:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/hm.running.aging/index.html
I used to argue this point with my now 86 year old father who has two artificial knees. He would tell me I should quit running because it was going to ruin my knees, but now that I've been at it for 30 years (I'm in my mid-50's), I think he has realized that's not going to happen. Either that, or he just got tired of lecturing me.
I think we went over this a few months ago. I remember refernce to this Stanford study:
http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2008/august/running.html
Most people will reach their peak bone density at age 28 to 30. Diet, genetics, exercise and hormones all play a large role in your peak bone density. Exercise, however plays the largest, meaning those of us who run regularly are going to have very high bone density. This high bone density will carry over into old age (at age 55 bone density begins to decline), and probably keep us from every becoming osteoporotic.
Also, the mechanics of running will build up our cartilage, not to mention strengthen the muscles around our knees.
The only way that we're going to have bad knees later in life due to running will be poor biomechanics or an acute injury (i.e. ACL injuries almost guarantee osteoporosis).
Running, along with any other weight bearing exercise (provided it is done correctly) is doing wonders for your joints. Keep at it and there shouldn't be a reason you can't run into for 70's.
Last I knew Ed Whitlock is done because of his knees.
From the Stanford study:
"Nineteen years into the study, 34 percent of the nonrunners had died, compared to only 15 percent of the runners."
Wow! Glad I'm a runner...
I have run for sixty years plus and my knees are fine. Everything else hurt at one time or another. Sorry, that is not an excuse not to run. Another myth knocked down.
Enjoy your running from youth thru middle age to old age. Your knees won't let you down.
MarathonMind wrote:
Last I knew Ed Whitlock is done because of his knees.
Possibly but not for sure. I have been off for a year because of woes with my right knee but I am back doing some running, hoping to get fit again. I had the same trouble with my left knee 8 years ago, was off for a year with that but came back to do good times for a 70 year old in the marathon. So never say die.
It\'s possible my knee problems are exacerbated by running but I don\'t think that is the root cause, I think my osteo arthritis problems are age and genetically related.
I don't know about the odds (or probabilities) you ask about, but assuming no sudden trauma type injuries (tears, breaks, and so forth)...don't fall into overuse areas, stay aware of (listen to your body) how you feel, pay attention to shoe wear (them old shoes feel so good, but can be bad on joint alignment).
I seldom go on pavement.
I still bike some.
I ran my first 100-miler at age 57.
At age 62 my wife and I walked across Spain (approx 600 miles).
Last Saturday I finished another trail marathon.
I run, seldom race.
I respond as simply an experiment of one. I'm 67 and have been running over 30 years. (80 mpw and 33 minute 10k PR in my 40s - so I stressed my body a lot in those days) I've had few knee issues, and when I felt pain it was always due to overuse (too much too soon). I'm certain that running on soft surfaces is the answer. I run two speed sessions per week on a rubber track and the remaining days are run on dirt trails. My knees are stronger and more resilient now than 40 and 50 years ago when I was 40# heavier and did occasional hard ski or backpacking trips.
Run steady, increase gradually, soft surfaces only and you'll enjoy decades of running.
J.R. wrote:
adddf wrote:Running does not damage one's knees as long as it is done smartly. It can only strengthen them. Knee damage from running is a myth.
Agreed. I have been running all my life and my knees are fine. The cartlidge in competitive runner's knees is 3 to 4 times as thick and strong as the none running population.
So true. and 79.67% of statistics are 100% made up right on the spot.
