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Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 12/2003

01-10-2003 | Current Opinion

Sports Career-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries

Long-Term Health Effects on Former Athletes

Authors: Dr Urho M. Kujala, Sakari Orava, Jari Parkkari, Jaakko Kaprio, Seppo Sarna

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 12/2003

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Abstract

Despite the high absolute number of sports injuries, most are not usually severe and consequent permanent disabilities are uncommon. Based on epidemiological data, former athletes have more degenerative changes in their joints and spine compared with control populations; however, at old age, their good muscle function related to high physical activity level seems to compensate for the effects of degenerative changes on function. There are former athletes who report disabilities due to different types of musculoskeletal injuries from sports careers. This article attempts to characterise this problem; however, more detailed studies are needed, particularly because the training regimens of the athletes seem to be increasingly demanding.
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Metadata
Title
Sports Career-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries
Long-Term Health Effects on Former Athletes
Authors
Dr Urho M. Kujala
Sakari Orava
Jari Parkkari
Jaakko Kaprio
Seppo Sarna
Publication date
01-10-2003
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 12/2003
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333120-00001