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Related Experiment Videos

Lower-limb function among former elite male athletes.

J A Kettunen1, U M Kujala, J Kaprio

  • 1Unit for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Former elite male athletes, particularly endurance and track and field participants, reported less hip disability than controls. However, team sport athletes showed a higher risk of knee disability, suggesting varied long-term joint health outcomes from sports participation.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Medicine
  • Orthopedics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Previous research suggests athletes face higher risks of lower-limb osteoarthritis.
  • The long-term impact of elite athletic careers on hip and knee function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between historical lower-limb loading from elite sports and current self-reported hip and knee disability.
  • To compare disability rates in former elite male athletes with healthy control subjects.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire was administered to 1321 former elite male athletes (Finland, 1920-1965) and 814 healthy control subjects.
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, and occupational group to calculate odds ratios for hip and knee disability.

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Main Results:

  • Former elite endurance athletes, track and field athletes, and all athletes combined reported significantly less hip disability compared to controls.
  • Team sport athletes exhibited a significantly higher odds ratio for knee disability compared to controls.
  • No significant difference in hip disability was found for power sport athletes or shooters.

Conclusions:

  • Elite male athletes in endurance and track and field disciplines may have a protective effect against hip disability later in life.
  • Team sports participation is associated with an increased risk of knee disability, potentially due to injury risks.
  • The long-term effects of athletic careers on joint health are complex and vary by sport type.