THE IMPACT OF RUNNING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5540Keywords:
Osteoartritis, Running, Knee, Physical ActivityAbstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent chronic joint disease worldwide that causes pain, disability, and loss of function. The knee is the joint most commonly affected. The link between physical activity and OA remains a topic of debate in the medical community. Since running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity today, we decided to take a closer look at its connection to knee OA. This review synthesizes recent research on this topic. There is a disagreement in the literature: some researchers argue that running increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis, while others suggest it may have a protective effect. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature concerning the effects of running on cartilage, as evaluated through imaging modalities and biochemical markers. We further examined its impact on patellofemoral joint pain, as well as the relationship between running duration and intensity. Additionally, we analyzed evidence on other risk factors for the condition and explored potential strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of running, as well as methods for the early detection of changes in the knee joint. We provide a holistic perspective on how running influences the development of knee osteoarthritis and highlight ongoing research directions to further improve outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Karolina Zawadzka, Magdalena Kiełbasiewicz, Małgorzata Sikorska, Patrycja Mularczyk, Tomasz Mruzek, Artur Marcysiak, Wojciech Łysoniewski, Nina Polek, Eliza Mędrek
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