J Athl Train. 2021 Aug 17. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0208.21. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Repetitive joint use is a risk factor for osteoarthritis, which is a leading cause of disability. Sports requiring a bat or racket to perform repetitive high-velocity impacts may increase the risk of thumb-base osteoarthritis. However, this hypothesis remains untested.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a history of participation in racket or bat sports is associated with the prevalence of thumb-base osteoarthritis.
DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study.
SETTING: Osteoarthritis Initiative. Four clinical sites in the United States.
PARTICIPANTS: We included men and women from the recruited from the community. Eligible participants had dominant hand radiographic readings, hand symptom assessments, and historical physical activity survey data.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A history of exposure to racket or bat sports (baseball/softball, racquetball/squash, badminton, table tennis, tennis [doubles/singles]) was based on self-reported recall data covering 3 age ranges (12-18 years, 19-34 years, 35-49 years). Prevalent radiographic thumb-base osteoarthritis was defined as someone with Kellgren-Lawrence grade≥2 in the first carpometacarpal joint or scaphotrapezoidal joint at the OAI baseline visit. Symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis was defined as the presence of radiographic osteoarthritis and hand/finger symptoms.
RESULTS: In total, we included 2309 participants. Among 1049 men, 355 (34%) and 56 (5%) had radiographic or symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis, respectively; and among 1260 women, 535 (42%) and 170 (13%), respectively. After adjusting for age, race, and education level, we found no statistically significant associations between a history of any racket or bat sport participation and thumb-base osteoarthritis (radiographic or symptomatic; odds ratios range from 0.82 to 1.34).
CONCLUSIONS: Within a community-based cohort, a self-reported history of participation in racket or bat sports was not associated with an increased odds of having radiographic or symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis in the dominant hand.
PMID:34404092 | DOI:10.4085/1062-6050-0208.21
