It's not clear that running makes joint problems any more likely, in general, see:

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134861448/put-those-shoes-on-r...

For example, keeping joints active with weight bearing exercise reduces the likelihood of developing arthritis. As other comments have mentioned, a common problem is overtraining, and especially starting out too fast. Patience is required to build up the strength and technique required to maximise benefits while minimising the risk of injury.