A study led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh reveals a striking pattern: about one in four athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games and later retired show signs of osteoarthritis. The findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and shed light on how a life of elite sport may impact joint health over time.
To understand the extent of the issue, researchers surveyed 3,357 former Olympic athletes, with an average age around 45. The team asked about past injuries and current joint health, focusing on bones, joints, muscles, and the spine. Participants also reported any ongoing joint pain and whether a medical professional had diagnosed osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that involves structural changes in joints, often bringing pain and limitations to daily activities.
Participants spanned 57 different sports, including track and field, rowing, and skiing. A control group of 1,735 non-athletes, with an average age near 41, answered the same questions to establish comparative benchmarks for general population risk. This design allowed researchers to explore how the athletes’ injuries, training histories, and body mechanics might influence later joint outcomes relative to non-athletes.
Several factors were examined as potential drivers of pain and osteoarthritis risk, including prior injuries, age, sex, and body weight. The analysis showed that sustaining a joint injury during an athletic career was more likely to lead to osteoarthritis among Olympians than among non-athletes who had experienced a similar injury. The knee, the lower back region of the spine, and the shoulder emerged as the joints most susceptible to injury, pain, and osteoarthritic change in this athletic population.
These results carry implications for how athletes and medical teams manage injuries, rehabilitation, and long-term joint health. By identifying which joints are most vulnerable and how injuries translate into lasting problems, the study points to potential strategies for prevention and early intervention. Emphasis on targeted rehabilitation, appropriate load management, and ongoing monitoring after retirement could help mitigate the risk of osteoarthritis in elite athletes over the long run. The researchers underscore the importance of adopting evidence-based approaches to protect joint health while maintaining high levels of performance during active careers.
In addition to informing medical practice, the study contributes to a broader understanding of how competitive athletics interacts with musculoskeletal aging. It highlights the need for longitudinal data that track athletes across the transition from competition to retirement, enabling more precise risk profiling and personalized care plans. The ultimate aim is to reduce pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis while supporting athletes in sustaining healthy, active lifestyles long after their competitive days are over. [Citation: University of Edinburgh researchers; British Journal of Sports Medicine]”