Unravelling the development of early hip osteoarthritis in football players: a cross-sectional study of male Australian Football League draftees

Abstract

Introduction: Playing elite football may increase a person’s risk of developing end-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA) in later life. Hip OA development is a continuum, with structural joint damage believed to start early in the lifespan of an elite football player. Cam and/or pincer morphology may play a key role in the development of early hip OA features (e.g., labral tears) and hip-related pain in football players. However, the relationship between cam and/or pincer morphology, early hip OA features, and symptoms in elite young adult football players remains unknown.