Nov 9, 1999

I have a question about running on mainly asphalt and concrete sidewalks. A neighbor tells my wife and I that by the time we get to be his age, we will have torn up our knees and hip sockets by running on these surfaces.

We are 37 and 38 years old, and the neigbor is around 60. We average between 25 and 50 miles a week of what I'd say would probably be easy training. (name withheld)

REPLY: Most of what I've read, and heard, and experienced, is that running protects joints more than it hurts them. Sure, runners get into knee-hip-ankle-toe trouble for the familiar reasons -- too much, too fast, too often, and ignoring clear warning signs as the crop up. I know some who've needed replacement parts.

Speaking personally, I have a strong family history of arthritis. At 56, I have arthritic changes in my neck, a shoulder and a pinkie finger.

But after almost 42 years of running I've noticed no such changes anywhere below the waist. This makes me think that runs, even on hard surfaces, are pretty safe . As long as you follow a sensible program in good shoes, you're no more likely to wear out your feet and legs than someone who doesn't run but sits and rusts out.

###