Osteoarthritis Risks and Sports: An Evidence-based Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose: Regular sports activities are associated with multiple physical and psychological health benefits. However, sports also may lead to injuries and the development of osteoarthritis (OA). This systematic review investigated the association between sports activity, sports type, and the risk of developing OA. Methods: A systematic review was performed by assessing studies that have investigated the risk of OA development in sports. Data extracted included general information, study design, number of participants, related body mass index, sports type, and assessment of OA. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: A total of 63 studies were included in this systematic review. The overall Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score was 6.46±1.44 demonstrating a good methodological quality of the articles included in the present study. A total of 628,036 participants were included, with a mean follow-up of 8.0±8.4 years. The mean age of the included athletes was 45.6±15.8, with a mean body mass index of 24.9±2.3 kg/m2. Conclusion: Football and soccer players seem to be at higher risk for the development of OA, although the injury status of the joint should be considered when assessing the risk of OA. High equipment weight and increased injury risk also put military personnel at a higher risk of OA, although elite dancing leads to more hip labral tears. Femoroacetabular impingement was also often diagnosed in ice-hockey players and ballet dancers.

Combination of Stem Cell & PRP Therapy in Healthy Aging for Osteoarthritis

“…Professional athletes exhibit earlier onset and accelerated progression after retirement (Kvist et al, 2020). Comparisons among elite soccer players, runners, and shooters reveal chronic symptoms in 79-90% of later in life (Migliorini et al, 2022); (Kvist et al, 2020). Heavy lifting occupations are similarly associated with hip/knee OA development.…”

Microbial Symphony: Exploring the Role of the Gut in Osteoarthritis-Related Pain. A Narrative Review

“…OA has long been attributed to biomechanical factors [ 4 ], ageing [ 5 ], and genetic predisposition [ 6 ]. However, a paradigm shift in our understanding of OA etiology is underway, with a growing body of evidence implicating the gut microbiota (GM) as a critical player in the intricate dance of joint health.…”

Phage Display Identified Peptide with Selectivity for Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

“…Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex degenerative and debilitating joint disease characterized by a progressive degradation of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and stiffening of the joints, leading to loss of mobility and function accompanied by chronic pain. [1] It affects more than 500 million people worldwide, being the leading cause of disability in older adults and also frequent due to sport lesions, [2] posing a huge economic burden. [3] Nowadays, disease management involves pain medication with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or analgesics to relieve the symptoms, with joint replacement surgery the final stage of treatment.…”