Running could slash hip replacement risk for arthritis sufferers

Running and other high-impact exercise could slash the risk of hip replacement in people with arthritis, new research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Essex found people with hip osteoarthritis who took part in high-impact activities had up to 48 per cent lower odds of needing a hip replacement within 12 months.

And despite fears that pounding the pavement could damage already painful joints, researchers found high-impact exercise did not increase the risk of knee replacement.

The findings challenge conventional advice that people with osteoarthritis should favour gentler, low-impact exercise to avoid putting too much strain on their joints.

Researchers say activities such as jogging and tennis could instead be suitable for some patients, and that blanket warnings against higher-impact exercise may be too cautious.

The major study, led by Dr Bernard Liew from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, analysed 17,661 people with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

'You don't have to stop'

Dr Liew said: “If you are already doing higher-impact activities such as running or tennis, an osteoarthritis diagnosis does not necessarily mean you need to stop.

“There will be times when people need a short period of rest or need to modify their training to manage a painful flare-up, but that is very different from giving up these activities altogether.

“There is a widespread perception that people with hip or knee osteoarthritis should automatically switch to low-impact exercise, such as walking or swimming.

“Our findings challenge that assumption. Stopping all high-impact exercise as a blanket recommendation could mean people lose the physical, mental and social benefits they get from being active.

“The message is not that everyone with osteoarthritis should suddenly start running.

“It is that people should be supported to manage and adapt their exercise around their symptoms, abilities and goals, rather than assuming higher-impact activity has to stop.”

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the research used data from 5,911 people with hip osteoarthritis and 11,750 with knee osteoarthritis.

Participants reported their physical activity, with researchers separating it into low-intensity, moderate-intensity, high-intensity, and high-impact categories.

Jogging, tennis, and skiing

High-impact activities included jogging, tennis, skiing, acrobatics, ballet, heavy labour and backpacking.

Researchers then tracked whether participants reported receiving a hip or knee replacement during the following 12 months.

Those doing high-impact activity had 36 to 48 per cent lower odds of receiving a total hip replacement than people doing less impactful forms of exercise.

There was also no evidence that high-impact activity increased the risk of total knee replacement.

The team investigated whether pain, physical capacity, or fear of damaging the joint explained the findings but found little evidence that they did.

The researchers caution that the study shows an association rather than proving high-impact exercise directly protects against joint replacement.

However, they say the results challenge the assumption that higher-impact activity is inherently harmful for people with osteoarthritis.

They suggest clinicians could consider gradually introducing higher-impact exercise for suitable people with hip osteoarthritis, while supporting people with knee osteoarthritis who want to continue such activities when their symptoms, physical ability and personal goals allow.