Habitual running not linked to knee OA progression

SEATTLE — Patients older than 50 years of age with knee osteoarthritis who ran on a regular basis did not have an increase in pain or visible radiographic structural progression during a 4-year study period, according to research presented during the Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis, here.

Grace Hsiao-Wei Lo, MD, and colleagues studied 1,251 participants with osteoarthritis (OA) who were older than 50 years of age at the time of diagnosis. The cohort included 138 runners, and patients who underwent knee replacement surgery were excluded.

Participants were administered the Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire. Those who indicated running among the top three most frequently performed physical activities were defined as runners. Frequency of knee pain was assessed and radiographs were performed at baseline and at 48-month follow-up. Additionally, OA clinical characteristics were assessed with the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade.

Logistical regression analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations to show correlation within knees, with the presence of running as a predictive factor of KL worsening, joint space narrowing (JSN) and new knee pain, adjusted for age, BMI, sex and a history of prior injury. However, no association was seen in unadjusted and most adjusted models, according to the researchers.

Non-significant odds ratios were seen in outcome KL scores and median JSN scores between runners and non-runners.

“Running should not be discouraged in patients with OA,” Lo said. “Exposure to running is not associated with statistical knee pain or worsening.” - by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Lo GH, et al. Paper #6. Presented at: Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis. April 30-May 3, 2015; Seattle.

Disclosure: Lo reports no relevant financial disclosures.