# Is running or martial arts bad on the person knee?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 30, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370 "2015-01-30T20:49:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/21 "2015-01-31T21:12:45Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> Why is a sedentary lifestyle bad for bones and joints.And if it done harm can you fix it after?
Resisting gravity stimulates the body to build greater bone mass to handle the stress.
Swimming and cycling are not weight bearing so the bones are not stimulated to the degree that running does.
Joints are stabilized by strong muscles.
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/22 "2015-01-31T21:15:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Most of them were new runners covering no more that a mile or two in the beginning. I don’t know what it’s like elsewhere but around here the common factor was literally no active play during childhood. Some of these kids have never even ridden a bicycle. No football, baseball, basketball, no carousing around the neighborhood for hours on end. And most reported little/no dairy consumption or any other good calcium source for years.
> Part of the problem is that these kids have the idea that you don’t complain to coach about “minor” aches and pains.
> Don’t know where they get the idea as we’re adamant about them reporting such things so potential injuries can be prevented.
>
> As far as the bone scan, **sweat** said he has thin bones. Without further information, I’m not going to recommend starting a high impact routine until he’s clear.
I should say my bones or tendons not sure if it is bone or tendons some times make a pop, snap and cracks it could be my hip,wrist,knees so on.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/23 "2015-01-31T21:31:11Z")
Bones build density and strength as they adapt to the forces placed on them. Most of the deposits into that bank are made in childhood and early adulthood, again typically peaking by the late 20s staying there usually into the 50s. What you ideally want is to have been active enough in your youth and early adulthood that your peak is way up there. It is easy to avoid losing so much that bones are at high risk of fracture if you are starting from a higher point. If your peak aint so hot then there is only so much you can do to build it up at that point (again, weight bearing exercise highest on the list). It won’t make up for having been a childhood sloth but it can have an impact. And keeping up with weight bearing exercise as you age can reduce the rate of decline.
**running coach** , **sweat209** has said (s)he has “thin bones” - without more information (like an actual history of frequent fractures) that means diddly and would _not_ in and of itself be an indication for a bone scan or, IMHO, avoidance of a beginners program.
**sweat209** there are lots of normal snaps and pops we make and making such sounds does not mean you need to be afraid to exercise. Most of the sounds (especially the ones you can make immediately over and over again) are just tendons snapping over bony prominences. If it does not hurt then you can exercise with them just fine.
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### Author:  [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/24 "2015-02-01T16:25:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Resisting gravity stimulates the body to build greater bone mass to handle the stress.
> Swimming and cycling are not weight bearing so the bones are not stimulated to the degree that running does.
>
> Joints are stabilized by strong muscles.
To second some of your points, my daughter was a very competitive cyclist. She even took 2nd place in College National Championships one year. She decided to join her college’s cross country team to get in some cross training. She quickly came down with shin splints of the stress fracture variety. Of course my daughter didn’t ramp up her running; rather, she went out and did 5 miles the first day. She was a vegetarian, but not a vegan, and did consume dairy products.
Bone density problems are well known in the cycling community. That’s why many of us also do things like lift weights and job/walk distances. I try to do about 6 miles a week on foot and even walk 2 or 3 half marathons a year.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/25 "2015-02-02T20:22:20Z")
DSeid the bones or tendons making popping,snapping or cracking noise seem to be more so this year.
Yes I had a very sedentary lifestyle. The damage may be done and nothing one can do about it because of the sedentary lifestyle no muscles and weak bones.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/26 "2015-02-02T20:46:30Z")
Muscles can be built at anytime, even into old age. Bone strength you can help improve some, and prevent loss minimally.
In any case as to the benefit of exercise - ANY is significantly better than none, in many many ways.
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### Author:  [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/27 "2015-02-02T23:01:28Z")
Can’t speak to running because I don’t like to run all that much.
But martial arts, when done correctly, is not bad on the knees. When done incorrectly, it can be ghodsawful on the knees. I blew an ACL coming up through the ranks, as did SWMBO. It made us better technicians and better instructors, because I don’t want that happening to my students.
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### Author:  [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/28 "2015-02-02T23:02:58Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> DSeid the bones or tendons making popping,snapping or cracking noise seem to be more so this year.
>
> Yes I had a very sedentary lifestyle. The damage may be done and nothing one can do about it because of the sedentary lifestyle no muscles and weak bones.
No one is saying don’t do anything. On the contrary, people are telling you to get building muscle and do weight-bearing exercises to help support your “thin bones”. There are tons of studies on the benefits of building strength as you age, but it gets harder to get going, and you need to ramp up but you need to start.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/29 "2015-02-03T01:59:28Z")
> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Muscles can be built at anytime, even into old age. Bone strength you can help improve some, and prevent loss minimally.
>
> In any case as to the benefit of exercise - ANY is significantly better than none, in many many ways.
But that sorta of a problem to build up muscles you have to run or lift weights but if you bones and joints are too weak you cannot do that.
Too have strong bones you have to exercise.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/30 "2015-02-03T02:11:51Z")
(Not sure if the poster is being serious or not.) There is no one whose bones and joints are too weak to exercise.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/31 "2015-02-03T02:33:43Z")
> [@DSeid](#):
>
> (Not sure if the poster is being serious or not.) There is no one whose bones and joints are too weak to exercise.
DSeid your are wrong, there many cases where doctor’s have given orders to people overweight or knee problem not to run. And put person on a strict diet and modest exercise.
Over time with improvement with working with doctor can get person up and running.
Being overweight or having knee problem can do more harm than good.
Most of my family has arthritis,knee and hip problems.
And no I would never take up running or martial arts with out talking to my doctor and getting doctor to check out my joints and bones.
There are too many people on health boards that have hurt them self. Even when you bones and joints are healthy you still have to be careful not to over do it.
If you are not nurse ,doctor or coach you should not be replying to this thread. I’m not going to put my body in hands of public.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/32 "2015-02-03T02:44:57Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> If you are not nurse ,doctor or coach you should not be replying to this thread. I’m not going to put my body in hands of public.
**DSeid** is a doctor.
And doctors, nurses, etc. are not usually trained in exercise physiology.
You can safely walk and lift weights to your ability. Any work will have a beneficial effect.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/33 "2015-02-03T02:49:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> **DSeid** is a doctor.
>
> And doctors, nurses, etc. are not usually trained in exercise physiology.
>
> You can safely walk and lift weights to your ability. Any work will have a beneficial effect.
In the meantime before I see doctor and get some tests done. Would waking be better than treadmill?
I may be getting arthritis because this year my bones or tendons are making a popping,snapping or cracking noise.
And I hate kneeling on the ground.
And the fact I’m lactose intolerance so I don’t eat milk ,cheese, ice cream and other dairy products taken into account.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/34 "2015-02-03T02:56:01Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> DSeid … you should not be replying to this thread. …
Well you are right there! 🙂
Good luck!
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### Author:  [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/35 "2015-02-03T16:13:56Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> In the meantime before I see doctor and get some tests done. Would waking be better than treadmill?
>
> I may be getting arthritis because this year my bones or tendons are making a popping,snapping or cracking noise.
>
> And I hate kneeling on the ground.
>
> And the fact I’m lactose intolerance so I don’t eat milk ,cheese, ice cream and other dairy products taken into account.
Either walking or treadmill would be fine. Just get out and start doing something. There’s a reason lots of people are mentioning Couch-to-5K: it’s a really good program for gradually ramping up your exercise.
If you are able to walk around your house and the grocery store, you’re in good enough shape to start Couch to 5K or something similar.
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/36 "2015-02-03T16:37:06Z")
Personal experience -
[ul][li]Don’t run on sand. It is particularly hard on the joints, due to slipping and twisting.[/li][li]Karate - when you practice kicks, don’t snap your knees straight. Power in a kick comes from the rotation of the hip, not the knee. Practice like the Thai boxers do, with the leg slightly bent on impact.[/li][li]Judo - don’t do drop _seoi-nage_. [/li][li]Jujitsu - don’t do heel hooks or _ashi-garami_. [/ul][/li]Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/37 "2015-02-03T20:23:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> **DSeid** is a doctor.
**DSeid** , please wave your magic doctor wand and fix my feet. TY. 😉
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> If you are not nurse ,doctor or coach you should not be replying to this thread. I’m not going to put my body in hands of public.
Yeah, telling people who can and can’t reply to a thread always works so well. **rollseyes**
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/38 "2015-02-03T23:32:26Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> If you are not nurse ,doctor or coach you should not be replying to this thread. I’m not going to put my body in hands of public.
And yet, you asked your questions on a message board populated mostly by laymen. And even the medical professionals who are on the board have never seen or evaluated your body. And in a [previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745591) you discounted repeated suggestions to see a doctor about a medical issue.
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### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/39 "2015-02-06T23:25:50Z")
If I go on a strict diet and eat only once a day:eek::eek::eek: and lose lots of weight would that get rid of the bones or tendons making popping, snapping or cracking noise and help my joints?
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### Author:  [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-or-martial-arts-bad-on-the-person-knee/711370/40 "2015-02-07T06:49:06Z")
> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Many martial arts are fantastic for that balance and strength work but indeed you want to choose wisely. Speaking without great knowledge I get the sense that Taekwondo is perhaps a better choice for your purposes. Tai Chi would be even safer for you knees, definitely would count as your balance work, help a bit on strength. Probably not enough to count as a complete fitness program without something more for cardiovascular at least. Karate is reputed to be very hard on the knees.
Actually, regarding Tai Chi, there was a study that came out a few years back that specifically noted knee problems amongst practitioners. My memory is pretty foggy on the details, but the article clicked with me because I have experienced knee problems and practiced Tai Chi. I’m sure someone could google it up.
It may well be the case, however, that if you found an experienced instructor who was aware of the issue raised in that article, they should be able to correct the postures in which practitioners are most prone to putting improper stress on the knee.
My own knee problems were finally resolved by doing a couple of very light exercises recommended to me by a trainer with some sports medicine background. I’ll chime in with the others in this thread on finding some expert help at least along those lines (not just any trainer, but one with medical qualifications) or, better, getting a referral to a physical therapist.
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