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Factors associated with pain and osteoarthritis at the hip and knee in Great Britain's Olympians: a cross sectional study

Cooper, Dale J.; Scammell, Brigitte E.; Batt, Mark E.; Palmer, Debbie

Factors associated with pain and osteoarthritis at the hip and knee in Great Britain's Olympians: a cross sectional study Thumbnail


Authors

Dale J. Cooper

Brigitte E. Scammell

Mark E. Batt

Debbie Palmer



Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the epidemiology and potentially modifiable factors associated with musculoskeletal disease is an important first step in injury prevention among elite athletes.

Aim: This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with pain and osteoarthritis (OA) at the hip and knee in Great Britain’s (GB) Olympians aged 40 and older.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A survey was distributed to 2742 GB Olympians living in 30 countries. Of the 714 (26.0%) who responded, 605 were eligible for analysis (ie, aged 40 and older).

Results: The prevalence of hip and knee pain was 22.4% and 26.1%, and of hip and knee OA was 11.1% and 14.2%, respectively. Using a multivariable model, injury was associated with OA at the hip (adjusted OR (aOR) 10.85; 95% CI 3.80 to 30.96) and knee (aOR 4.92; 95% CI 2.58 to 9.38), and pain at the hip (aOR 5.55; 95% CI 1.83 to 16.86) and knee (aOR 2.65; 95% CI 1.57 to 4.46). Widespread pain was associated with pain at the hip (aOR 7.63; 95% CI 1.84 to 31.72) and knee (aOR 4.77; 95% CI 1.58 to 14.41). Older age, obesity, knee malalignment, comorbidities, hypermobility and weight-bearing exercise were associated with hip and knee OA and/or  pain.

Conclusions: This study detected an association between several factors and hip and knee pain/OA in retired GB Olympic athletes. These associations require further substantiation in retired athletes from other National Olympic Committees, and through comparison with the general population. Longitudinal follow-up is needed to investigate the factors associated with the onset and progression of OA/pain, and to determine if modulation of such factors can reduce the prevalence of pain and OA in this population.

Citation

Cooper, D. J., Scammell, B. E., Batt, M. E., & Palmer, D. (2018). Factors associated with pain and osteoarthritis at the hip and knee in Great Britain's Olympians: a cross sectional study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(17), 1101-1108. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098315

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 24, 2018
Online Publication Date May 14, 2018
Publication Date Sep 30, 2018
Deposit Date May 14, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal British Journal of Sports Medicine
Print ISSN 0306-3674
Electronic ISSN 1473-0480
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 52
Issue 17
Pages 1101-1108
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098315
Keywords Hip; Knee; Osteoarthritis; Health; Post-olympic
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/932137
Publisher URL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2018/05/14/bjsports-2017-098315
Additional Information Copyright © 2018 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine