It’s a widely held belief that running grinds your knee joints to dust over time, eventually leading to a knee replacement.

This is largely a myth. Running on healthy, uninjured knees is actually good for joint health. The repetitive impact strengthens bone density, builds leg strength and stability, and helps maintain a healthy weight—all protective factors for your knees.

Injury is the real problem

What is bad for your knees is injury, particularly ligament and meniscal tears. Sports that involve rapid direction changes, jumping and contact carry significantly higher injury risks. Netball is notorious for knee injuries, as are football and rugby. Leading experts in the field suggest that if we change how young athletes are coached in these sports, by introducing sports-specific neuromuscular training, we could substantially reduce the risk of knee arthritis later in life and the subsequent need for joint replacement surgery.

Certain occupations also take their toll on knee health. Farming, with its repetitive kneeling, heavy lifting and awkward positioning, is particularly associated with increased knee stress and cumulative joint damage.

What the evidence shows

A comprehensive review of the evidence found that recreational runners had one third of the prevalence of knee arthritis compared to non-runners. So, if you’ve been putting off running due to concerns about your knees. and you’re currently injury-free – get back on your feet!