Long-Distance Running, Bone Density, and Osteoarthritis
- Nancy E. Lane, MD;
- Daniel A. Bloch, PhD;
- Henry H. Jones, MD;
- William H. Marshall Jr, MD;
- Peter D. Wood, PhD;
- James F. Fries, MD
Abstract
Forty-one long-distance runners aged 50 to 72 years were compared with 41 matched community controls to examine associations of repetitive, long-term physical impact (running) with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Roentgenograms of hands, lateral lumbar spine, and knees were assessed without knowledge of running status. A computed tomographic scan of the first lumbar vertebra was performed to quantitate bone mineral content. Runners, both male and female, have approximately 40% more bone mineral than matched controls. Female runners, but not male runners, appear to have somewhat more sclerosis and spur formation in spine and weight-bearing knee x-ray films, but not in hand x-ray films. There were no differences between groups in joint space narrowing, crepitation, joint stability, or symptomatic osteoarthritis. Running is associated with increased bone mineral but not, in this cross-sectional study, with clinical osteoarthritis.
(JAMA 1986;255:1147-1151)
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, HRP Bldg, Room 109C, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305 (Dr Fries).
