Skip to main content
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 2004 Oct;38(5):526–535. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2003.011262

Muscle dysfunction versus wear and tear as a cause of exercise related osteoarthritis: an epidemiological update

I Shrier 1
PMCID: PMC1724947  PMID: 15388532

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (3.1 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Altman R. D., Fries J. F., Bloch D. A., Carstens J., Cooke T. D., Genant H., Gofton P., Groth H., McShane D. J., Murphy W. A. Radiographic assessment of progression in osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1987 Nov;30(11):1214–1225. doi: 10.1002/art.1780301103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson J. J., Felson D. T. Factors associated with osteoarthritis of the knee in the first national Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES I). Evidence for an association with overweight, race, and physical demands of work. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Jul;128(1):179–189. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114939. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Armstrong S. J., Read R. A., Ghosh P., Wilson D. M. Moderate exercise exacerbates the osteoarthritic lesions produced in cartilage by meniscectomy: a morphological study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1993 Apr;1(2):89–96. doi: 10.1016/s1063-4584(05)80023-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Badley E. M. The effect of osteoarthritis on disability and health care use in Canada. J Rheumatol Suppl. 1995 Feb;43:19–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Birmingham T. B., Kramer J. F., Kirkley A., Inglis J. T., Spaulding S. J., Vandervoort A. A. Association among neuromuscular and anatomic measures for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Aug;82(8):1115–1118. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2001.24306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brandt K. D., Braunstein E. M., Visco D. M., O'Connor B., Heck D., Albrecht M. Anterior (cranial) cruciate ligament transection in the dog: a bona fide model of osteoarthritis, not merely of cartilage injury and repair. J Rheumatol. 1991 Mar;18(3):436–446. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brown T. D., Radin E. L., Martin R. B., Burr D. B. Finite element studies of some juxtarticular stress changes due to localized subchondral stiffening. J Biomech. 1984;17(1):11–24. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(84)90075-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Buckwalter J. A. Osteoarthritis and articular cartilage use, disuse, and abuse: experimental studies. J Rheumatol Suppl. 1995 Feb;43:13–15. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Burr D. B., Turner C. H., Naick P., Forwood M. R., Ambrosius W., Hasan M. S., Pidaparti R. Does microdamage accumulation affect the mechanical properties of bone? J Biomech. 1998 Apr;31(4):337–345. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9290(98)00016-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Cheng Y., Macera C. A., Davis D. R., Ainsworth B. E., Troped P. J., Blair S. N. Physical activity and self-reported, physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis: is physical activity a risk factor? J Clin Epidemiol. 2000 Mar 1;53(3):315–322. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(99)00168-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Christina K. A., White S. C., Gilchrist L. A. Effect of localized muscle fatigue on vertical ground reaction forces and ankle joint motion during running. Hum Mov Sci. 2001 Jun;20(3):257–276. doi: 10.1016/s0167-9457(01)00048-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Clark A. L., Herzog W., Leonard T. R. Contact area and pressure distribution in the feline patellofemoral joint under physiologically meaningful loading conditions. J Biomech. 2002 Jan;35(1):53–60. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9290(01)00165-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Cooper C., Snow S., McAlindon T. E., Kellingray S., Stuart B., Coggon D., Dieppe P. A. Risk factors for the incidence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2000 May;43(5):995–1000. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200005)43:5<995::AID-ANR6>3.0.CO;2-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Daniel D. M., Stone M. L., Dobson B. E., Fithian D. C., Rossman D. J., Kaufman K. R. Fate of the ACL-injured patient. A prospective outcome study. Am J Sports Med. 1994 Sep-Oct;22(5):632–644. doi: 10.1177/036354659402200511. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Eckstein F., Lemberger B., Stammberger T., Englmeier K. H., Reiser M. Patellar cartilage deformation in vivo after static versus dynamic loading. J Biomech. 2000 Jul;33(7):819–825. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9290(00)00034-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ettinger W. H., Jr, Burns R., Messier S. P., Applegate W., Rejeski W. J., Morgan T., Shumaker S., Berry M. J., O'Toole M., Monu J. A randomized trial comparing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise with a health education program in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. The Fitness Arthritis and Seniors Trial (FAST). JAMA. 1997 Jan 1;277(1):25–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Felson D. T., Lawrence R. C., Dieppe P. A., Hirsch R., Helmick C. G., Jordan J. M., Kington R. S., Lane N. E., Nevitt M. C., Zhang Y. Osteoarthritis: new insights. Part 1: the disease and its risk factors. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Oct 17;133(8):635–646. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-133-8-200010170-00016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Felson David T., McLaughlin Sara, Goggins Joyce, LaValley Michael P., Gale M. Elon, Totterman Saara, Li Wei, Hill Catherine, Gale Daniel. Bone marrow edema and its relation to progression of knee osteoarthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Sep 2;139(5 Pt 1):330–336. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-139-5_part_1-200309020-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Gelber A. C., Hochberg M. C., Mead L. A., Wang N. Y., Wigley F. M., Klag M. J. Joint injury in young adults and risk for subsequent knee and hip osteoarthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Sep 5;133(5):321–328. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-133-5-200009050-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Graf B. K., Cook D. A., De Smet A. A., Keene J. S. "Bone bruises" on magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1993 Mar-Apr;21(2):220–223. doi: 10.1177/036354659302100210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hasler E. M., Herzog W., Leonard T. R., Stano A., Nguyen H. In vivo knee joint loading and kinematics before and after ACL transection in an animal model. J Biomech. 1998 Mar;31(3):253–262. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9290(97)00119-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Hurley M. V. The role of muscle weakness in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1999 May;25(2):283-98, vi. doi: 10.1016/s0889-857x(05)70068-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kettunen J. A., Kujala U. M., Kaprio J., Koskenvuo M., Sarna S. Lower-limb function among former elite male athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2001 Jan-Feb;29(1):2–8. doi: 10.1177/03635465010290010801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kiviranta I., Tammi M., Jurvelin J., Arokoski J., Sämänen A. M., Helminen H. J. Articular cartilage thickness and glycosaminoglycan distribution in the canine knee joint after strenuous running exercise. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992 Oct;(283):302–308. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Klünder K. B., Rud B., Hansen J. Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joint in retired football players. Acta Orthop Scand. 1980 Dec;51(6):925–927. doi: 10.3109/17453678008990896. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Konradsen L., Hansen E. M., Søndergaard L. Long distance running and osteoarthrosis. Am J Sports Med. 1990 Jul-Aug;18(4):379–381. doi: 10.1177/036354659001800408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Kujala U. M., Kaprio J., Sarna S. Osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints of lower limbs in former élite male athletes. BMJ. 1994 Jan 22;308(6923):231–234. doi: 10.1136/bmj.308.6923.231. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Kujala U. M., Kettunen J., Paananen H., Aalto T., Battié M. C., Impivaara O., Videman T., Sarna S. Knee osteoarthritis in former runners, soccer players, weight lifters, and shooters. Arthritis Rheum. 1995 Apr;38(4):539–546. doi: 10.1002/art.1780380413. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lane N. E., Bloch D. A., Hubert H. B., Jones H., Simpson U., Fries J. F. Running, osteoarthritis, and bone density: initial 2-year longitudinal study. Am J Med. 1990 May;88(5):452–459. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(90)90422-a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Lane N. E., Bloch D. A., Jones H. H., Marshall W. H., Jr, Wood P. D., Fries J. F. Long-distance running, bone density, and osteoarthritis. JAMA. 1986 Mar 7;255(9):1147–1151. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Lane N. E., Michel B., Bjorkengren A., Oehlert J., Shi H., Bloch D. A., Fries J. F. The risk of osteoarthritis with running and aging: a 5-year longitudinal study. J Rheumatol. 1993 Mar;20(3):461–468. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Lane N. E., Oehlert J. W., Bloch D. A., Fries J. F. The relationship of running to osteoarthritis of the knee and hip and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine: a 9 year longitudinal study. J Rheumatol. 1998 Feb;25(2):334–341. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Lau E. C., Cooper C., Lam D., Chan V. N., Tsang K. K., Sham A. Factors associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in Hong Kong Chinese: obesity, joint injury, and occupational activities. Am J Epidemiol. 2000 Nov 1;152(9):855–862. doi: 10.1093/aje/152.9.855. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Lindberg H., Roos H., Gärdsell P. Prevalence of coxarthrosis in former soccer players. 286 players compared with matched controls. Acta Orthop Scand. 1993 Apr;64(2):165–167. doi: 10.3109/17453679308994561. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Lohmander L. S., Roos H. Knee ligament injury, surgery and osteoarthrosis. Truth or consequences? Acta Orthop Scand. 1994 Dec;65(6):605–609. doi: 10.3109/17453679408994613. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Marti B., Knobloch M., Tschopp A., Jucker A., Howald H. Is excessive running predictive of degenerative hip disease? Controlled study of former elite athletes. BMJ. 1989 Jul 8;299(6691):91–93. doi: 10.1136/bmj.299.6691.91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. McDevitt C., Gilbertson E., Muir H. An experimental model of osteoarthritis; early morphological and biochemical changes. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1977 Feb;59(1):24–35. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.59B1.576611. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Mizrahi J., Verbitsky O., Isakov E. Fatigue-related loading imbalance on the shank in running: a possible factor in stress fractures. Ann Biomed Eng. 2000 Apr;28(4):463–469. doi: 10.1114/1.284. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Palmoski M. J., Brandt K. D. Running inhibits the reversal of atrophic changes in canine knee cartilage after removal of a leg cast. Arthritis Rheum. 1981 Nov;24(11):1329–1337. doi: 10.1002/art.1780241101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Panush R. S., Schmidt C., Caldwell J. R., Edwards N. L., Longley S., Yonker R., Webster E., Nauman J., Stork J., Pettersson H. Is running associated with degenerative joint disease? JAMA. 1986 Mar 7;255(9):1152–1154. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Penninx B. W., Messier S. P., Rejeski W. J., Williamson J. D., DiBari M., Cavazzini C., Applegate W. B., Pahor M. Physical exercise and the prevention of disability in activities of daily living in older persons with osteoarthritis. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Oct 22;161(19):2309–2316. doi: 10.1001/archinte.161.19.2309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Petrella R. J., Bartha C. Home based exercise therapy for older patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial. J Rheumatol. 2000 Sep;27(9):2215–2221. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Puranen J., Ala-Ketola L., Peltokallio P., Saarela J. Running and primary osteoarthritis of the hip. Br Med J. 1975 May 24;2(5968):424–425. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5968.424-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Radin E. L., Parker H. G., Pugh J. W., Steinberg R. S., Paul I. L., Rose R. M. Response of joints to impact loading. 3. Relationship between trabecular microfractures and cartilage degeneration. J Biomech. 1973 Jan;6(1):51–57. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(73)90037-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Radin E. L., Paul I. L. Does cartilage compliance reduce skeletal impact loads? The relative force-attenuating properties of articular cartilage, synovial fluid, periarticular soft tissues and bone. Arthritis Rheum. 1970 Mar-Apr;13(2):139–144. doi: 10.1002/art.1780130206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Roos H., Laurén M., Adalberth T., Roos E. M., Jonsson K., Lohmander L. S. Knee osteoarthritis after meniscectomy: prevalence of radiographic changes after twenty-one years, compared with matched controls. Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Apr;41(4):687–693. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199804)41:4<687::AID-ART16>3.0.CO;2-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Roos H., Lindberg H., Gärdsell P., Lohmander L. S., Wingstrand H. The prevalence of gonarthrosis and its relation to meniscectomy in former soccer players. Am J Sports Med. 1994 Mar-Apr;22(2):219–222. doi: 10.1177/036354659402200211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Sharma L., Song J., Felson D. T., Cahue S., Shamiyeh E., Dunlop D. D. The role of knee alignment in disease progression and functional decline in knee osteoarthritis. JAMA. 2001 Jul 11;286(2):188–195. doi: 10.1001/jama.286.2.188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Sohn R. S., Micheli L. J. The effect of running on the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis of the hips and knees. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985 Sep;(198):106–109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Solonen K. A. The joints of the lower extremities of football players. Ann Chir Gynaecol Fenn. 1966;55(3):176–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Spector T. D., Harris P. A., Hart D. J., Cicuttini F. M., Nandra D., Etherington J., Wolman R. L., Doyle D. V. Risk of osteoarthritis associated with long-term weight-bearing sports: a radiologic survey of the hips and knees in female ex-athletes and population controls. Arthritis Rheum. 1996 Jun;39(6):988–995. doi: 10.1002/art.1780390616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Videman T. The effect of running on the osteoarthritic joint: an experimental matched-pair study with rabbits. Rheumatol Rehabil. 1982 Feb;21(1):1–8. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/21.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Vingård E., Alfredsson L., Goldie I., Hogstedt C. Sports and osteoarthrosis of the hip. An epidemiologic study. Am J Sports Med. 1993 Mar-Apr;21(2):195–200. doi: 10.1177/036354659302100206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Vingård E., Alfredsson L., Malchau H. Osteoarthrosis of the hip in women and its relationship to physical load from sports activities. Am J Sports Med. 1998 Jan-Feb;26(1):78–82. doi: 10.1177/03635465980260013101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Wu J. Z., Herzog W., Epstein M. Joint contact mechanics in the early stages of osteoarthritis. Med Eng Phys. 2000 Jan;22(1):1–12. doi: 10.1016/s1350-4533(00)00012-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES