If you're young, like a teen, & if you run everyother day..will you have bad knee problems in the future?

Question

I'm thinking about running everyother day for exercise, but i don't want to put my knees @ risk for the future. I'm not an overweight person, but i think i still need the exercise.
whenever i run, my knees don't hurt afterwards--but i'm scared they will in the future. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Answer 1

The knee joint is very complex, and takes a lot of stress when running. Frequent running or jumping, over a long time (years to decades), will eventually wear out the cartilage that lines the knee, resulting in osteoarthritis.

Whenever you run, the knee has to absorb a lot of force. First, compressive forces arise because of the impact of the feet with the ground which is transferred upwards to the knees and hips. This tends to wear out and damage the cartilage of the knee. Second, rotational and torsional forces the give rise to swinging of the legs have to be absorbed and moderated by the ligaments around the knee. These ligaments, although tough, heal very poorly once damaged.

Joint cartilage has very little regenerative capacity in adults because they have very little blood supply. Therefore, over time it gradually degenerates, making the knee less able to absorb force. Running accelerates this process of physical wear and tear, and in the later stages, can lead to what is known as osteoarthritis, or arthritis due to physical wear and tear of the joint.

Ligament injuries and tears can occur if you over strain the knees by running too long a distance without adequate training, or if you meet with an accident or otherwise injure your legs. Ligament tears reduce the stability of the knee, resulting in greater forces being placed on the joint cartilage, which also accelerates the process of wear and tear.

The more frequently you run, and the longer the distances you run, the more wear and tear your knee will suffer. Being overweight, running on hard surfaces, jumping, and not using proper shoes, all lead to an increased rate of cartilage damage, and an increased risk of osteoarthritis of the knee. There is also a significant genetic component; some people have knees that are naturally more resistant to wear, and do not develop significant osteoarthritis until very old.

A sensible approach to starting a running program would be to begin slowly, with short distances. This gives your muscles time to get conditioned, which is important for maintaining knee stability. In addition, getting a good pair of running shoes, and running on a track instead of on the road, will help to provide additional cushioning for your knees, and reduce the amount of impact they have to absorb. Finally, if you have a history of prior knee problems, or if you have frequent pain in the knee or clicking in the knee, then you should probably consult your doctor to get the knees assessed before starting on a serious running program.

Answer 2

If either of your parents have knee trouble then your risk of having problems with your knees is higher than if they don't have any knee problems.
Running with good technique on a forgiving surface every other day or 3 to 4 times per week should not be a problem unless, you are much heavier than you should be and the knees are overloaded OR you are running on not just hard or uneven surfaces that place you at greater risk but that you are running on a track with a very tight turn and doing the running preferentially only in one direction. Sprinters who train like this can develop spiral fractures. But if you are not a serious sprinter then it should be no problem barring any of the conditions mentioned above.
Your diet should be a healthy one since the wear on joints requires sufficient and adequate nutrition to provide the nutrients to help them recover. Also hydrate adequately. Sincerely, H

Answer 3

No!!
Not unless every single day you push yourself wayyy past your limits then you are good. Start out easy and then buildup from that, running every other day is a great way to get your stamina up, and unless you have bad knees to begin with, your running won't hurt them!
Ps, if you switch it up and add in some ab work and weights then you'll not only be in good shape, but you'll get toned too.
Hope that helped!

Answer 4

Yeah,u will get knee pains in the future in u run for like 2 months you'll get knee pains.Trust me i have done it and i had knee pains for a month and i couldnt play in my football games.So yeah ur gonna get them

Answer 5

Probably. Check with your doctor.

Answer 6

k yes and no the yes is if you run on concrete and no if you run on grass or soft gravel or dirt.

Answer 7

NO.....UNLIKELY............