How well do you know what lies beneath? As with everything to do with running, it’s not until something goes wrong, that we begin to investigate – but with our bones, it’s worth becoming an expert long before that happens…

Words Laura Briggs

Running’s bad for your knees.” “You wait until you’re older.” “It can’t be good for your joints.” How many times have you heard those phrases?

The impact running has on our bones is a complicated subject – it’s not a one-rule-fits all scenario, so we’re taking an in-depth look at bones and all the varying factors that impact on them.

Age, general health, smoking, drinking, frequency of exercise, and yep, you guessed it, menopause, are all elements that have a bearing on bone health. However, although running can put extra pressure on our bones and joints, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the enemy. So, what makes up our bones, what makes them tick, and how can we look after them better?

Bone biology

“The osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoids all play a part in bone formation, whereas the osteoclasts are responsible for the dissolution and absorption of bone”

We’re born with a whopping 300 bones. They start off soft and pliable (think how bendy children are), and then, throughout childhood and adolescence, cartilage builds up and fuses some together so that we end up with 206 bones in total as adults.

They give us a structure, protect our vital organs, provide an environment for marrow to be produced, and store minerals, like calcium. There are two types of bone: the hard outer layer that’s known as compact, or cortical bone; and the light, spongy inner bit – the cancellous, or trabecular bone.

They’re also made up of different types of cells: osteoblasts; osteocytes; osteoids; and osteoclasts. The osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoids all play a part in bone formation, whereas the osteoclasts are responsible for the dissolution and absorption of bone.