Athletics and Osteoarthritis

Athletes, and an increasing number of middle aged and older people who want to participate in athletics, may question whether regular vigorous physical activ ity increases their risk of developing osteoarthritis. To answer this, the clinical syndrome of osteoarthritis must be distinguished from peri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of sports medicine 1997-11, Vol.25 (6), p.873-881
Main Authors: Buckwalter, Joseph A., Lane, Nancy E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Arthritis
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cartilage, Articular - injuries
Cartilage, Articular - physiology
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Health risk assessment
Humans
Joints
Joints - injuries
Joints - physiology
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis - etiology
Osteoarthritis - physiopathology
Osteoarthritis - prevention & control
Physiological aspects
Risk Factors
Sports
Sports medicine
Weight-Bearing
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Summary:Athletes, and an increasing number of middle aged and older people who want to participate in athletics, may question whether regular vigorous physical activ ity increases their risk of developing osteoarthritis. To answer this, the clinical syndrome of osteoarthritis must be distinguished from periarticular soft tissue pain associated with activity and from the development of osteophytes. Sports that subject joints to repetitive high levels of impact and torsional loading increase the risk of articular cartilage degeneration and the resulting clinical syndrome of osteoarthritis. However, moderate habitual exercise does not increase the risk of osteo arthritis ; selected sports improve strength and mobility in older people and people with mild and moderate osteoarthritis. People with abnormal joint anatomy or alignment, previous significant joint injury or surgery, joint instability, above-average body weight, distur bances of joint or muscle innervation or inadequate muscle strength probably have increased risk of osteo arthritis. These people and those with early osteoar thritis can benefit from regular physical activity, but they should have a careful evaluation of their joint structure and function before participation. They should consider measures that decrease the intensity and frequency of impact and torsional loading of joints, including use of sports equipment that decreases joint impact loading, maintaining or improving muscle strength, tone, and general conditioning so that muscle contractions help protect joints from injury and high impact, and decreasing body weight.
ISSN:0363-5465
1552-3365
DOI:10.1177/036354659702500624