Arthritis: It’s more serious than you think.

The pain and stiffness that comes with knee osteoarthritis, can make everyday activities difficult. So what about running and the impact on our knees? Below are some of the more frequently asked questions, related articles, and infographics that may be helpful to understanding the severity of knee osteoarthritis and how that may affect your decisions about your own physical activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.How will strength training and physiotherapy help prolong the life of my knee joint or delay surgery?

Muscle strength and progression of osteoarthritis are related. Proper strength training and building of strong muscles can potentially slow down the progression of knee OA.

Q2. What is good pain vs bad pain when running with knee osteoarthritis?

There should be no increase in knee pain during or after running. If your everyday pain level is 1-2/10 and remains the same level during and after running, it may not be a problem.

Q3. Should I wear a brace on my knee when I run?

It’s better to listen to your body, if it makes you feel better, why not? However a brace will not reduce the forces at the knee during running.

Q4. Are there different types of running? If so, is one better than another for knee osteoarthritis?

Yes there are ways to run that will decrease forces at the knee. Typically some suggestions would be to take short steps instead of long steps, and to try to “run softly” (with less impact / noise when landing).

Q5. Who could I turn to for more guidance on how to run properly if I am interested in running with my knee osteoarthritis?

It’s best to seek the help of a healthcare professional with specific training about running injuries. 

#ArthritisIsSerious Tweet Chat (March 4, 2020)

 

 To view the conversation, click here.

Resources

 

VIDEO:

ARTICLE: Is running bad for our knees?

ARTICLE: Knee osteoarthritis affects at least 1 in 6 adults

INFOGRAPHIC: Degenerative stages of knee osteoarthritis

INFOGRAPHIC: Evidence-based recommendations for ACL Tears

Opportunity to Participate in Research

A new study on Knee Osteoarthritis and running: Linking biomechanical and imaging outcomes to better understand the effects of running on knee joint health

 

Arthritis Patient Advisory Board

 

Interested in learning more about the Arthritis Patient Advisory Board or how to get involved? Click here

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