Cam morphology is associated with early hip OA features in young adult football players with and without hip and groin pain

Abstract

Introduction: Playing football may increase a person’s risk of developing hip OA in later life. This may be related to cam morphology, which is present in two thirds of football players. However, the relationship between cam morphology, symptoms and early hip OA is unknown in football players. This study had two aims: 1) examine the relationship between cam morphology and early hip OA features (cartilage defects and labral tears) in football players with and without hip/groin pain; 2) investigate if the association between cam morphology and early hip OA features is stronger in football players with hip/groin pain.