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

Abstract

Background: As the first step towards prevention of musculoskeletal disease among elite athletes, knowledge of epidemiology and modifiable risk factors is needed.

Aim: This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with pain and osteoarthritis (OA) at the hip and knee in Great Britain’s (GB) Olympians aged 40 and older.

Methods: A cross-sectional study. A survey was distributed to 2742 GB Olympians living in 30 countries. Of the 714 who responded, 605 were eligible for the analysis (i.e. aged 40 and older).

Results: The prevalence of hip and knee pain was 22.4% and 26.1%, and hip and knee OA was 11.1% and 14.2%, respectively. Using a multivariable model, injury was detected to be associated with OA at the hip (aOR 10.85; 95% CI 3.80-30.96), and knee (aOR 4.92; 95% CI 2.58-9.38), and pain at the hip (aOR 5.55; 95% CI 1.83-16.86), and knee (aOR 2.65; 95% CI 1.57-4.46). Widespread pain was associated with pain at the hip (aOR 7.63; 95% CI 1.84-31.72), and knee (aOR 4.77; 95% CI 1.58-14.41). 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 risk factors associated with the onset and progression of OA / pain, and to determine if modulation of risk 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, 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: Aug 17, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 7, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0306-3674
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-0480
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098315
• Keywords: Hip, Knee, Osteoarthritis, Association, Post-Olympic
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1152501