There was a doubled risk in soccer and handball players, and a tripled risk in ice hockey players, added the researchers, whose study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. – Reuters Photo

Elite male athletes who participate in high-contact sports such as football, soccer and rugby have a higher risk of developing knee and hip osteoarthritis than men who exercise little or not at all, a Swedish study found.

There was a doubled risk in soccer and handball players, and a tripled risk in ice hockey players, added the researchers, whose study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Osteoarthritis, also called “wear and tear” arthritis, occurs when the cartilage cushioning the joints wears down. That allows bones to rub together, which can cause pain, swelling and limited range of motion.

“Hip and knee osteoarthritis ... are more commonly found in former male elite athletes than expected,” wrote co-author Magnus Tveit at Lund University in Sweden.

“A previous knee injury is associated with knee osteoarthritis in former impact athletes but not in non impact athletes.”

The study included more than 700 retired Swedish athletes aged 50 to 93 who had played professional and Olympic level sports, and nearly 1,400 men of the same age who exercised a little or not at all.

The group of retired athletes included men involved in high-contact sports such as soccer and hockey, and those who participated in non-contact sports like running, swimming and cycling.

The risk of having hip or knee arthritis was 85 per cent higher in elite athletes. In athletes who had had joint surgery, the risk more than doubled.

The risk for those who got little to no exercise was 19 per cent.

“Regular exercise is important to health and well being, but certain kinds of exercise expose you to greater risk of injury,” said Joseph Buckwalter, who studies osteoarthritis and sports medicine at the University of Iowa and was not involved in the study.

“Elite athletes engage in challenging, physically demanding sports, so they’re at higher risk of joint injuries and repetitive joint injuries.”

Though the study found little impact on younger or weekend athletes, there are a few lessons for some, added Tveit.

“If you’re an overweight, middle-aged runner who wants to run at an intense level, there are better ways of staying in shape without risking a knee injury,” he wrote in an email.

Experts agreed that physical activity regardless of the type of sport had health benefits that outweigh the risk of arthritis, and recommended sports with less risk of injury such as swimming, cycling, moderate running and yoga.

Opinion

Editorial

Increased inflows
Updated 12 Jan, 2025

Increased inflows

Govt must devise a strategy to increase industrial and agricultural productivity to boost exports and reduce reliance on uncertain remittances.
Gwadar’s potential
12 Jan, 2025

Gwadar’s potential

THE Gwadar deep-sea port, completed in 2007, was supposed to be a shining success for the other newly built ports in...
Broken metropolis
12 Jan, 2025

Broken metropolis

KARACHI, Pakistan’s economic juggernaut, is the largest contributor to the nation’s tax revenue. The Federal...
Afghan outreach
Updated 11 Jan, 2025

Afghan outreach

Islamabad should stress stronger counterterrorism measures, yet also engage the Taliban high command in Kandahar as well as politicians in Kabul.
Fragile recovery
11 Jan, 2025

Fragile recovery

STATE Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed appears to be quite optimistic over recent economic gains. That is not unusual;...
Destination Europe
11 Jan, 2025

Destination Europe

THE country’s aviation authorities can rest a little easy. After a four-year banishment from European skies,...