Jogging is a popular form of exercise – but many people believe it puts excessive strain on the knees.
Now a major new research project is to recruit recreational runners to study the issue.
The Nottingham University researchers plan to continue the project for 15 years to establish whether regular running causes osteoarthritis of the knee.
They are seeking help from thousands of people who spend their Saturday mornings running around parks as part of the increasingly popular ParkRun movement.
The runners will be compared with volunteers who help organise the events but do not run.
Backed by Arthritis Research UK, The researchers plan to recruit some 8,000 runners from 350 parks in the UK together with another 1,500 from Australia.
Researcher Richard Leech said: “It is really important that physical activity is encouraged within our society. Our research seeks to identify the short and long-term outcomes associated with recreational running.
"In doing so we wish to identify the benefits, particularly in relation to musculoskeletal health, so that people of all ages can participate safely.”
Fellow researcher Professor Mark Batt, of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Generally, sport and exercise are very good for us, and it is vital that we continue to promote this important public health message.
"We want to understand the risk factors and, importantly, the protecting factors there may be in being active and exercising regularly.”
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