Grant: Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Female Athlete Health
University of British Columbia
$0.00
Cartilage, biomechanical, and clinical responses to a start to run program in masters aged individuals: Implications for long-term knee joint health
EF 2025-26
Résumé
Running is an inexpensive and easily accessible method of physical activity that conveys a number of physical and psychological health benefits to millions of people worldwide. Though masters runners (35 years of age or older) now represent an increasing proportion of the running population, many people, including clinicians, feel that running "ruins your knees" and should be avoided by older individuals. However, there is no evidence to support this notion; in contrast, there is a growing body of literature suggesting that running may not only be safe for knee joint health, but protective of it.
Our group has been at the leading edge of research in the area of running and knee joint health in older runners, including runners with knee osteoarthritis - a common and burdensome joint disorder. We have found that experienced runners who have a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis run similarly to similar-aged runners without knee osteoarthritis, and do not report any differences in frequency, intensity, or type of running. Importantly, we have also found that knee joint cartilage - a smooth tissue lining joints that protects them - does not respond differently to a bout of running in these two groups, nor does a 12-week running program have any negative effects on cartilage response or pain trajectories.
The proposed research will expand on our previous work by examining novice runners - those who are just starting recreational running. We will examine MRI-based measures of cartilage health and structure, running biomechanics (patterns of running) and clinically-relevant data to assess the new runners' experiences during a 6-month "start to run" program. We will also monitor changes in these outcomes over the course of the program.
These results will add to the growing body of knowledge regarding the safety of running for knee joint health, and provide runners and clinicians with valuable information to best guide safe and enjoyable participation in this activity.
Programme
Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Female Athlete Health
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
CIHR Funding Decisions Database
Tel que publié
Id
553354
Name
Hunt Michael A
Region
British Columbia
Country
Canada
Orgtype
Institution Paid; Research Institution
Partnername
Sport Canada (Gatineau QC)
Instname2
Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Theme2
Biomedical
Prcname2
Movement & Exercise
Projecttitle
Cartilage, biomechanical, and clinical responses to a start to run program in masters aged individuals: Implications for long-term knee joint health
Programtype2
Operating Grants
Orgnameinp2
University of British Columbia
Cihramount2
$0
Cihrequipment2
$0
Programname2
Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Female Athlete Health
Keyworddelim
Aging; Biomechanics; Cartilage; Knee; Running
Abstract
Running is an inexpensive and easily accessible method of physical activity that conveys a number of physical and psychological health benefits to millions of people worldwide. Though masters runners (35 years of age or older) now represent an increasing proportion of the running population, many people, including clinicians, feel that running "ruins your knees" and should be avoided by older individuals. However, there is no evidence to support this notion; in contrast, there is a growing body of literature suggesting that running may not only be safe for knee joint health, but protective of it.
Our group has been at the leading edge of research in the area of running and knee joint health in older runners, including runners with knee osteoarthritis - a common and burdensome joint disorder. We have found that experienced runners who have a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis run similarly to similar-aged runners without knee osteoarthritis, and do not report any differences in frequency, intensity, or type of running. Importantly, we have also found that knee joint cartilage - a smooth tissue lining joints that protects them - does not respond differently to a bout of running in these two groups, nor does a 12-week running program have any negative effects on cartilage response or pain trajectories.
The proposed research will expand on our previous work by examining novice runners - those who are just starting recreational running. We will examine MRI-based measures of cartilage health and structure, running biomechanics (patterns of running) and clinically-relevant data to assess the new runners' experiences during a 6-month "start to run" program. We will also monitor changes in these outcomes over the course of the program.
These results will add to the growing body of knowledge regarding the safety of running for knee joint health, and provide runners and clinicians with valuable information to best guide safe and enjoyable participation in this activity.
Competitiondate
202509
Approvedterm2
1 yr 0 mth
Pinamesdelim
Hunt, Michael A
Approvedterm
1 an 0 mois
