Osteoarthritis Risk Factors in Athletic Populations
Summary
Osteoarthritis in athletes arises from a complex interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors include age, body mass index, genetic predisposition and joint alignment, while extrinsic factors encompass the type, intensity and duration of sporting activities, as well as exposure to acute injuries. High‐impact sports such as football and rugby exhibit elevated risks due to repetitive joint loading, whereas long‐distance running may pose a lower risk if training is appropriately graduated. Traumatic injuries—particularly anterior cruciate ligament ruptures and meniscal tears—and subsequent surgeries significantly heighten the risk of cartilage degeneration. Chronic mechanical overload can trigger inflammatory pathways and aberrant mechanotransduction, leading to progressive cartilage breakdown. Preventive strategies emphasise load management, neuromuscular training, timely rehabilitation and monitoring of joint health to preserve long‐term function and quality of life in both current and retired athletes.
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Osteoarthritis Risk Factors in Athletic Populations publication trend
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Technical terms
Mechanotransduction: The process by which cells convert mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals that influence cartilage health and repair.
Goldilocks zone: A conceptual range of mechanical loading that is sufficient to promote joint resilience without causing tissue overload or degeneration.
Post‐traumatic osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease that develops following an acute injury, such as ligament rupture or fracture.
Radiographic osteoarthritis: Joint degeneration diagnosed by imaging techniques, typically showing cartilage loss, osteophytes and joint space narrowing.
Meniscectomy: Surgical removal of all or part of a damaged meniscus, which can alter joint mechanics and increase osteoarthritis risk.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): A key stabilising ligament of the knee whose injury predisposes the joint to abnormal loading and subsequent cartilage wear.
References
- Finding the Goldilocks Zone of Mechanical Loading: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanical Loading in the Prevention and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Bioengineering (2024).
- Running Marathons in High School: A 5-Year Review of Injury in a Structured Training Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
- Prevalence of knee pain, radiographic osteoarthritis and arthroplasty in retired professional footballers compared with men in the general population: a cross-sectional study. British Journal of Sports Medicine (2017).
- The Relationship between Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Advances in Orthopedics (2015).
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