Is tennis a predisposing factor for degenerative shoulder disease? A controlled study in former elite players

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• High shoulder demands in tennis can compromise joint stability.
• Repetitive stress may lead to glenohumeral joint instability and long-term degenerative changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis between senior tennis players and matched controls.
• To investigate the association between tennis activity and shoulder osteoarthritis.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional controlled study involving 18 senior tennis players and 18 matched controls.
• Radiographic assessment of glenohumeral osteoarthritic changes including joint space narrowing, sclerosis, cysts, osteophytes, and erosion.
• Classification of degenerative changes as normal, minimal, moderate, or severe.

Main Results:

• 33% of senior tennis players exhibited osteoarthritic changes in their dominant shoulder, versus 11% in controls (p=0.04).
• The osteoarthritic group was significantly older than those without degenerative changes (p=0.008).

Conclusions:

• Former elite tennis players have a higher prevalence of glenohumeral osteoarthritis than sedentary individuals.
• Prolonged intensive tennis practice may predispose individuals to mild degenerative shoulder changes.