Question: I love your column. I am man in my 60s and have long jogged for fitness. I really enjoy it. But my knees have a little arthritis in them and they ache after I run. My question is, should I keep running or do I risk having to get joint replacement in the future?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
The important point is to listen to your body and not push to the point of pain, and to stop running if you do have pain. Jogging is a high-impact exercise and can directly affect your knee. It is advisable to know the extent of your arthritis through imaging studies that can be ordered by your doctor. You may be asked to shift to walking or swimming while continuing to maintaining your exercise routine with knee strengthening exercises. The idea is to limit damage to your knees and keep you in overall physical good health. You will only need to visit a doctor if you continue to have pain at rest, swelling, and, or redness around your knee joint.