Press Release - London Marathon - 1/20/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Marathon running can reduce knee damage in middle-aged adults

Running a marathon can actually improve damage in the knees of middle-aged 
adults, according to a new study.

As part of research led by Dr Alister Hart of University College London and 
the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, and conducted in part by London 
Marathon Medical Director Professor Sanjay Sharma, 82 healthy adults 
underwent MRI scans on both knees six months before and two weeks after 
their first marathon.

MRI scans before training and running the London Marathon showed signs of 
damage to key structures in the knees of the majority of the 82 
participants in the study.

But after the marathon, the 71 participants who completed the training and 
the event itself saw a reduction in the damage sustained to a number of 
essential components of the knee, including cartilage.

However, there was also evidence of some wear and tear to other parts of 
the knee which are put under stress during running.

Read more about the study at the Running For Science website.

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