The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ most recently published Physical Activities Guidelines states that every individual requires a minimum of 75 to 150 minutes a week of high-intensity exercise and activity or alternatively 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate activity. The lower the intensity, the more minutes of activity required.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ most recently published Physical Activities Guidelines states that every individual requires a minimum of 75 to 150 minutes a week of high-intensity exercise and activity or alternatively 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate activity. The lower the intensity, the more minutes of activity required.

Despite the intensity involved in the activity of running, when compared to walking, recent studies have shown that running is not necessarily more likely to cause or worsen various forms of arthritis. A 2013 study compiled a report based on data collected by the National Runner’s Health Study and noted that there was a 15% reduction in the risk of osteoarthritis and 35% less of a risk of requiring a hip replacement in those who were active and ran a minimum of 1.2 miles every day. 

A more recent study conducted in 2017 and published in the Journal of Arthritis Care & Research noted that, out of their participants that were divided into two groups of runners and non-runners, only 53% of the runners compared to 59% of the non-runners, had osteoarthritis in their knees. This number actually dropped to 51% for the former group as the intensity of the running increased.