Sport and arthritis

PollySid

I have been enjoying watching the Olympics on the TV and wondered how many of us OA sufferers used to be keen sportsmen/women in our youth.
I loved sport in my teen years and was in an athletic club (with Geoff Capes!). I trained 5 days a week and spent many of the weekends competing against other clubs. I even have a bronze medal from the Lincolnshire County.
I can't help thinking that all the long jump, high jump, hurdling etc did not do my joints much good when my body was growing.
Do you think there is any connection, or is it just hereditary and the luck (or bad luck in our case) of the draw?

ELAINE55555

I have 2 ex PE teachers living opposite me. I would say they are both early 70's. One is cofined to a wheelchair and the other one has a very bad stoop. Makes you wonder!

Depressed12

It's very probable, especially when you have had some injuries in your youth, even minor ones.
On the other hand, there are many people who have active in sport through their whole life without any joint problems. So, I believe, genetics has definitly a strong role.
On the internet you can find many articles on the connection between sports in youth and OA in later life. I don't know whether linking is allowed here but a good comprehensive overview can be found if you tip "FUTURE SHOCK: Youth sports and osteoarthritis risk" in Google.

stickywicket

We know there's a correlation between old fractures and OA but as for 'sport' itself, I just don't see it except when young children have been pushed to train too hard too in order to satisfy some parent or coach's ambitions. Left more or less to their own devices and just encouraged to get involved in sports as much as they wish, I'd suspect that kids usually don't go too far wrong.

We know that many children's sedentary lifestyles are now causing all sorts of early health problems formerly associated with middle or old age.

Anecdotal evidence isn't of much value but we are a 'sporty' family (present company excepted :oops: ) and have lots of sporty friends of all ages. I can't, off-hand, think of one that has OA. Mr SW (nearly 70) now has the odd knee and hip twinge but they don't stop him playing golf twice a week and going to the gym.

I'd guess it's probably a combination of genetics and former fractures that lead to early OA (Not to mention RA :roll: ) and it might be that anyone with a family history of it and/or fractures shouldn't do high impact sports.

Helenbothknees

Anecdotal evidence isn't proof of course, but I do know a lot of formerly very active people who now have OA. Even the consultant said that it sounded as though mine was caused by "over-use". I'm not sure any more that sport is quite as good for us as modern medical fashion would have us believe.

But hey, life is for living! I did my record breaking 5,000 mile walk round Britain, rode, sailed, windsurfed etc because I wanted to. Even with hindsight, I wouldn't change a thing. To slightly misquote Janis Joplin, who wants "70 years sitting in some goddamned chair"?

dreamdaisy

Sport and me have always had a very uneasy relationship, mostly thanks to chronic hayfever and severe asthma (this was in the days before inhalers existed). School sports days were sheer, unadulterated hell, mind you so were school sports.

It makes sense that a degree of physical activity is going to be good for one's overall health but if one takes it to extremes then yes, maybe damage will result at a later date but so what? You've had the fun of doing it (if that's your thing) and who the hell thinks of consequences when they're in their teens (the immortal years), twenties (when one can still recover fairly quickly) and thirties (when slowing up may begin). I wonder if swimmers and cyclists are affected by OA in later life? My gut reaction would be that they wouldn't as those are two low-impact sports (even at the levels we have witnessed over the past few days) but the runners, hammer throwers (look at the way they pivot on their feet and the twist in the knee joints), gymnasts etc, well they punish their joints. DD

freesia

OMG - sore subject...

I was 'extremely' sporty when younger, played about 7 or 8 different sports at school & college, and also played some sports to county level..

So YES.... I WAS very active...
And now, walking around the supermarket is a struggle...

Helenbothknees

freesia, if it's any help at all, I know just how you feel! People still ask me when my next long distance walk is going to be.

lizzy100

yea its because its wear and tear, so sports and injuries will be factors predisposing. hard contact sports are the worst ie running. Things like swimming and cycling are better.
Im 27 with arthritis and cant do anything or go anywhere and really wanted to start doing sports again

dreamdaisy

Some with OA may wish to blame their youthful active lifestyles for their current predicaments but I am aware that the thinking about the cause of OA is changing. There may well be a genetic link to OA because those in their teens and twenties can be affected - 'wear and tear' is surely an innacurate description of why they have it. Life is a risky business in itself. DD