Shoulder and knee surgery double odds of osteoarthritis in retired professional rugby players

Objectives: This study i) described the prevalence of clinically diagnosed shoulder and knee osteoarthritis among retired male professional rugby players, ii) determined the association of severe injury and related surgery with shoulder and knee osteoarthritis, and iii) described players' level of shoulder and knee function and compared it to matched controls. 

Design: Observational study with a cross-sectional design using questionnaires. 

Methods: Retired professional rugby players and matched controls from a non-elite sporting background were recruited. Single questions and validated questionnaires determined clinical shoulder and knee osteoarthritis as well as shoulder and knee function. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine potential associations, whilst comparisons with matched controls for shoulder and knee function were explored using the Mann–Whitney test for independent samples. 

Results: Fourteen percent of the retired male professional rugby players (n = 146; mean age = 39.6 years) had clinical shoulder osteoarthritis and 23 % had clinical knee osteoarthritis. Every shoulder surgery doubled retired rugby players' odds of having clinical shoulder osteoarthritis (odds ratio = 2.1; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1–3.9) and every knee surgery doubled retired rugby players' odds of having clinical knee osteoarthritis (odds ratio = 2.0; 95 % confidence interval = 1.2–3.3). 

Conclusions: Clinical shoulder and knee osteoarthritis is a common medical condition among retired professional rugby players. Long-term consequences should be considered when managing shoulder and knee injuries during professional rugby players' careers.