[pjam]

> Long distance running will wear your meniscus out.

Is there any research to back that? Everything I’ve ready says that it is not a fatality and that it is possible to run, for many years (life?) without destroying your joints.

It’s my understanding that your statement is as accurate as saying “driving a car will result in you getting in a car accident”. It’s extremely possible and it has happened to many people but it doesn’t mean it _has_ to happen

[projectileboy]

A physical therapist once told me that the number of runners (that is, people who have done it regularly for years) who have non-trivial knee problems is in the neighborhood of 75%. Don’t know the source behind that, but it’s stuck with me. And the reason I was there was because of the knee problems I had from running.

[elcritch]

The research is mixed. Partly since the advent of modern running sneakers may actually be causing more injuries as a sibling comment pointed out. For a while I was doing PhD research in materials science and created a technique to do materials fatigue testing of the meniscus. Unfortunately that was the first ever such research for meniscus and the data wasn't able to conclude much, alas. The research can't say for sure what injuries are from form and conditions or underlying mechanical limits, or the effect of self-repair mechanisms. After that work though, my opinion is to run on the front of your foot and remain well hydrated as both reduce peak impact forces. Also pay attention to how you twist the knee while running (eg don't twist during land). Also 1/3 of meniscus injuries still appear to be unrelated to any specific injury or activities like running.

[zimpenfish]

> that it is possible to run, for many years (life?) without destroying your joints.

I knew a few people who've done well over 200 marathons (a couple are well over 500, one is over 1500 IIRC, one did >250 in a calendar year) without destroying their joints. Now it might be that their running style (invariably "slow and easy") that lets them do that many marathons also contributes to them avoiding this issue.

[vitro]

I've seen a video where they recorded a runner running barefoot and in shoes. When running barefoot, you tend to step on a front of your foot and much less vibration go to your whole body this way.

I've bought barefoot shoes myself and it is true that I tend to step more on a front part of the foot as well.

[thotsBgone]

"Driving a car will result in you getting in a car accident" is pretty accurate given that the average person will be in an accident.