Several research studies have concluded that low to moderate volume running does not increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis at the hip or knee. In contrast, it has also been noted that runners typically weigh less than non-runners which results in less weight placed their hip and knee joints during normal daily activities. Also noted is that the act of running is a weight bearing activity which can help increase bone density. Furthermore, running has been shown to reduce the risk of other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression.
The articles do caution that just because running does not predispose you to osteoarthritis, it does not mean that if you are a runner you will not develop osteoarthritis. Rather, they emphasize that your risk of developing osteoarthritis in the hip or knee joints is no greater than if you did not run at all. Also, these articles only looked at the risk at the hip and knee joints and did not assess risk for ankle and spinal joints.
