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BONES, JOINTS & MUSCLESDoes running wear out yourknees?1Hip/knee OA prevalence: recreational runners3.5%, non-runners 10.2%, competitive runners13.3%2Recreational runners OR 0.86; competitiverunners OR 1.343Under 15 years of running: OR 0.64Real risk factors: obesity, joint injury,occupational kneeling and squatting5Observational data — can’t rule out that peoplewith bad knees don’t run6With existing OA, still exercise (high-qualityevidence) — choose the right kindKidney patients’ limits come from heart, anaemia and fistulaprotection — not “running hurts knees”. Weight-bearingexercise protects bone density.BBeyond CKDbeyondckd.com/en/cards/running-and-your-kneesSources: Alentorn-Geli E et al. Running and hip/knee OA · 2026-10-17Compiled from public clinical guidelines · General education, not individual medical advice
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Bones, joints & muscles

Does running wear out your knees?

A systematic review of 125,810 people: recreational runners had less osteoarthritis than non-runners.

  1. 1Hip/knee OA prevalence: recreational runners 3.5%, non-runners 10.2%, competitive runners 13.3%
  2. 2Recreational runners OR 0.86; competitive runners OR 1.34
  3. 3Under 15 years of running: OR 0.6
  4. 4Real risk factors: obesity, joint injury, occupational kneeling and squatting
  5. 5Observational data — can’t rule out that people with bad knees don’t run
  6. 6With existing OA, still exercise (high-quality evidence) — choose the right kind

Kidney patients’ limits come from heart, anaemia and fistula protection — not “running hurts knees”. Weight-bearing exercise protects bone density.

Caption (ready to paste)

A systematic review of 125,810 people: recreational runners had less osteoarthritis than non-runners.

1. Hip/knee OA prevalence: recreational runners 3.5%, non-runners 10.2%, competitive runners 13.3%
2. Recreational runners OR 0.86; competitive runners OR 1.34
3. Under 15 years of running: OR 0.6
4. Real risk factors: obesity, joint injury, occupational kneeling and squatting
5. Observational data — can’t rule out that people with bad knees don’t run
6. With existing OA, still exercise (high-quality evidence) — choose the right kind

Kidney patients’ limits come from heart, anaemia and fistula protection — not “running hurts knees”. Weight-bearing exercise protects bone density.

Sources: Alentorn-Geli E et al. Running and hip/knee OA — JOSPT 2017
Verified: 2026-10-17

Cards and scripts are general health education compiled from public clinical guidelines. They are not individual medical advice and do not replace assessment by your doctor, pharmacist or dietitian. Please keep the sources and this notice when sharing; this page holds the latest version.
https://beyondckd.com/en/cards/running-and-your-knees
60-second short-video script

Shot list and voice-over. Vertical 9:16; put captions in the lower third. Every line maps to the sources on the left.

secScreenVoice-over
0–5Running shoesWill running wreck your knees?
5–25Three percentagesA review of 125,000 people: recreational runners 3.5% osteoarthritis, non-runners 10.2%, elite runners 13.3%.
25–45Scale and injury iconThe real risks are obesity, prior injury and years of kneeling — not recreational running.
45–60Fistula armFor kidney patients the limits are heart, anaemia and fistula protection. Weight-bearing exercise protects your bones.

Sources (every point on the card maps to one)

Verified: 2026-10-17