It’s a commonly held belief that running and resistance training can cause or worsen degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. However, there is no strong evidence that running[1] or resistance training[2] causes or worsens osteoarthritis. In fact, running[3] and resistance training[4] can improve functionality and reduce pain in people with osteoarthritis.
The evidence that physical activity worsens osteoarthritis is weak. In many cases, physical activity may even be beneficial in reducing symptoms, which is why the American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guidelines strongly recommend physical activity in people with osteoarthritis.[5]