While running doesnt cause osteoarthritisreally, research backs us up!runners can still be at risk of developing this condition, where the cartilage protecting your joints wears down.
If you are one of the people who deals with osteoarthritis, you may have heard about steroid injections as a potential treatment for pain and inflammation. But according to new research published in the journal Radiology, these injections may not be as safe as doctors previously thought.
In a review of existing studies about complications from steroid injectionsplus observing outcomes of 459 patients from their hospitalresearchers from Boston Universitys School of Medicine found that the injections can cause further damage to your joints, therefore accelerating your arthritis. Specifically, you may lose joint space, cartilage, or even bone, Ali Guermazi, M.D., Ph.D., study author and professor of radiology at Boston University, told Runners World.
This may be because steroids can be toxic to cartilage tissue in high doses, the study states, interfering with the production and breakdown of cartilage proteins. That means you may lose out on the cushioning effect of cartilage.
However, Guermazi notes that this is an observational studymeaning it cant prove cause and effectand further research is needed. His take-home message, though, is for patients to merely be informed that these complications can occur, since as of right now, theyre not well known, and its not common for doctors to inform patients of these possibilities.
These injections are used by hundreds of thousands worldwide, so from now on, we need to let patients know this is something that can happen, he said.
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Guermazi goes on to say that even if your steroid injection doesnt cause the above-mentioned complications, they only treat inflammation and pain temporarily, which is why people have to keep getting them. As it stands right now, there is no permanent treatment for osteoarthritis, according to Guermazi, though there are currently clinical trials going on in regards to treating both pain and the structural damage to the joint. (As weve previously reported, some of the more advanced treatments include neuromuscular stimulators, regenerative injectables, cartilage replacement, and synthetic implants.)
And while NSAIDs can also help relieve pain and inflammation temporarily, your best bet, he says, is to focus on diet and exercise. While its common to believe being active might worsen arthritis, research shows that it can reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to your cartilage.
Its also important to make sure that your weight falls within a healthy range, since the more overweight you are, the more force you put on your joints. Guermazi also recommends regularly practicing yoga to ease any stiffness you may be experiencing.
Originally posted here:
Steroid Injections May Not Be the Arthritis Cure-All That You Think - Runner's World
