by 
This article originally appeared promptly.com.?
Running includes a track record of causing wear and tear on knees over time, leading to joint pain, arthritis or other injuries. But a current small study discovered that Half an hour of running actually lowered inflammation in runners’ knee joints, leading many to wonder if running does indeed increase a person’s risk for injuries-or if it aids in preventing them.
In the report, published within the European Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers at Brigham Young University brought 15 healthy runners ages 18 to 35 right into a lab where they took samples of their blood and knee joint fluid before and after they ran for 30 minutes on a treadmill. Additionally they assessed exactly the same samples when they were sedentary.
The researchers expected to locate an increase in molecules that spur inflammation in people’s knee fluid once they ran, but they didn’t. Instead, they found that pro-inflammatory markers actually decreased after a 30-minute run. The scientists ended up only getting complete information from six of the people in the study, however they saw the same results in all of those people.
“It was surprising,” says study author Matt Seeley, an affiliate professor of exercise science at BYU. “We expected the molecules to increase, however it was the alternative.” Seeley stresses that the report is really a pilot study, and that because of the few people, there isn’t a lot that may be inferred in the findings. The researchers also only checked out inflammation right after people ran, as opposed to a week or month later. But Seeley says his team plans to do the same study in more people in the future.
“I think, and hope, the information shows that running will work for your joints,” Seeley adds. “Although the results are limited, they are also unexpected and is important.”
Some experts not involved in the study say that while the study findings are intriguing-even given the small sample size-it’s not yet clear whether running can safeguard knees from injuries or arthritis. “There is data on both sides of the fence,” says Dr. Brian Feeley, an orthopedic surgeon in the University of California, Bay area. “We know that there are some people that run constantly without any knee problems, and others which have arthritis at a relatively young age.” (Feeley was not involved in the recent study.)
For many runners, a 30-minute session is comparatively short, and Feeley says the study does not necessarily suggest that long-distance running is protected. Other studies of marathon runners have found alterations in cartilage that may suggest possibility of injuries that may persist for months following a long race.
“Taken together, this suggests that there is probably an evolutionary advantage to let us run relatively short distances where the body protect cartilage from damage by decreasing inflammation,” says Feeley. “Long distance running may result in a scenario where overwhelming the knee’s capability to decrease inflammation occurs, resulting in the potential for joint degeneration.”
Both Seeley and Feeley agree that the benefits of running outweigh the risks of not running (particularly if done in moderation.) Additional factors, like weight or genetics, may also contribute to whether one is more likely to get arthritis or other injuries from running. More research is required to completely understand the risks and benefits. In the meantime, people who run can help to eliminate their chance of knee problems through cross-training and spending time to recover, as well as paying attention to any pain or swelling.
