“You’ll ruin your knees!”

You cringe when you hear it.  It comes from well-meaning relatives and from complete strangers on the street.  Part of you wants to tell them to butt-out, but you’re too polite for that.

Sorry, Non-Runners (and rejoice, Future-Runners!), if you’re using the “knee thing” as an excuse for why you can’t run, it just won’t wash.

Studies are showing that runners actually have healthier knees as they age because:
1.  Running helps keep excess weight at bay, which takes strain off your knees.
2.  Running helps flush waste from cartilage cells, keeping them healthy.
3. Running helps strengthen ligaments, which support your joints, making them more stable and less prone to injury.

It is actually damaged cartilage that is susceptible to osteoarthritis.  Therefore, while running itself can help your joints, injuries such as strains and sprains really can ruin your knees if you don’t treat them properly and allow them to heal.  This is one of those instances where that runner-drive must be reigned in – running won’t ruin your knees, but stubbornness might!