Independent report

Osteoarthritis of the knee in professional football players: IIAC position paper 44

A review of the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee in professional football players.

• From: Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
• Published: 3 April 2020

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Osteoarthritis of the knee in professional football players: position paper 44

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Osteoarthritis of the knee in professional football players: position paper 44

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This position paper updates an earlier review by the Council into Sporting Injuries published in 2005.

A comprehensive review of the recent published literature relating to osteoarthritis (OA) in footballers has been carried out by members with musculoskeletal expertise to understand whether, and to what extent, there is a risk of OA associated with playing professional football.

The Council did not find enough consistent evidence that the risk of knee OA is doubled amongst football players in the absence of a traumatic knee injury. The Council has therefore decided against recommending prescription for OA of the knee in footballers, but it remains open to the possibility of reviewing its position as the research evidence base continues to grow.

The Council does however encourage ex-professional footballers who had a documented knee injury during their playing career, and later developed osteoarthritis in that knee, to consider making a claim under the accident provision of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Published 3 April 2020