Ankle Osteoarthritis in Former Elite Football Players: What Do We Know?

Abstract

Due to cumulative exposure to heavy physical demands and to the occurrence of traumatic ankle injuries during their career, former professional football players are likely to suffer in their post-sport life from ankle osteoarthritis. Ankle osteoarthritis involves a progressive degeneration of articular cartilage in the ankle joint that might lead to joint pain, reduced function, instability, deformity and swelling. The recent scientific literature has showed that the prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis in former professional football players was high (9-17 %) compared to former athletes from other sport disciplines and to the general population. Most of the former professional football players suffering from ankle osteoarthritis reported to experience moderate to severe problems related to joint pain/discomfort, mobility and performing usual activities (work, study, house, etc.). In addition, 37 % of them reported moderate or severe problems with anxiety/depression because of the pain/discomfort and impairments caused by ankle osteoarthritis. Future directions related to the medical care and support of former professional football players facing l ankle osteoarthritis might involve self-awareness (information provision) system, self-management programme and/or end-career socio-medical consultation.