Increased risk of knee injuries and osteoarthritis in the non-dominant leg of former professional football players

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in knee injuries and osteoarthritis between the dominant and non-dominant legs of former professional football players. The study cohort comprised 40 retired professional players with an average age of 49.2 years. Participants completed a questionnaire about their sports and personal history with special emphasis on knee injuries/operations of the dominant and non-dominant leg. Bilateral standing knee radiographs were taken. Overall, 29 footballers (73%) had experienced at least one moderate or severe knee injury and 18 (40%) had undergone at least one knee operation during their career. Among those injured, 14 (35%) players had suffered a dominant knee injury and 22 (55%) a non-dominant knee injury. Evidence of osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence scale > or = 2) was found in 17 (43%) dominant and 23 (58%) non-dominant knees. Professional football players have a significant risk of knee injuries and early osteoarthritis with preponderance in the non-dominant leg.

Injury prevention strategies, coach compliance and player adherence of 33 of the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study teams: a survey of teams’ head medical officers

“…A typical elite European team can expect approximately 50 injuries per season including approximately 8 or 9 causing an absence of >1 month 4. Regarding players’ long-term health, former professional football players have a significant risk of developing knee osteoarthritis5 and experience a worse quality of life with regard to osteoarthritis regardless of the anatomical site (lower limbs, back and neck) 6 7…”

Match-related risk factors for injury in male professional football

“…Many injuries can have long-lasting consequences for the injured player, such as pain and symptoms of common mental disorders [12,14]. This thesis, however, also suggests that there are other consequences of injury occurrences that are related to the performance of the team.…”

“…It has been shown that professional football is associated with a more than 1000-fold higher injury rate than other professions often considered to be high risk, such as manufacturing and construction [11]. It has also been shown that 60% of retired football players have ended their careers due to injury [12].…”

“…Professional football may also have long-lasting negative physiological consequences for the players, with residual pain affecting their quality of life [16,17]. These physiological consequences have also been found to occur more frequently among players who have sustained significant injuries during their careers, [12] which can potentially be explained by an increased risk of osteoarthritis after injuries [18]. It is therefore important to try to reduce the risk of injury in professional football.…”

A kinematic and kinetic analysis of spinal region in subjects with and without recurrent low back pain during one leg standing

“…Several studies also compared a single-leg hop for the differences in kinematics and reported a significant risk of knee injuries with preponderance in the non-dominant leg (Krajnc et al, 2010;van der Harst et al, 2007). The maintenance of balance is influenced by a range of several sensorimotor functions, including muscular strength, proprioception, and the visual and A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 5 vestibular sensory systems (Brumagne et al, 2008a;Treleaven, 2008;Vaugoyeau et al, 2008).…”