Osteoarthritis has long been considered a disease of wear and tear. The older people get, the more likely they are to have pain and inflammation in their joints. That is presumably because of a lifetime of stress and strain on the joint.
Does Use Lead to Inflammation?
If this theory is true, then long-distance runners should be more susceptible to osteoarthritis than the rest of us. A new study from Brigham Young University suggests instead that runners have less inflammation in their knees rather than more.
The scientists measured markers of inflammation before and after the study volunteers, healthy people between 18 and 35 years old, went for a 30-minute run. The markers they examined were GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and IL-15 (interleukin 15). After the run, levels of the compounds dropped in the area directly around the knee. The more times a runner’s foot hit the ground, the lower the level of interleukin 15. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) increased in the blood but decreased in the synovial fluid bathing the joint right after the run.
If Running Lowers Inflammation, Does It Protect the Knees?
The researchers speculate that running and the subsequent decrease in inflammation may help protect the cartilage of the knee and delay the onset of osteoarthritis.
