ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2019
Prevalence of Asymptomatic Intra-articular Changes of the Knee in Adult Professional Soccer Players.
Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Occupational risk factors for meniscal lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Pooled it
- Two-year follow-up of varus progression in young professional football players.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Asymptomatic Abnormalities in the Knee, Shoulder, and Ankle Joints of Collegiate Athletes: A Cross-Sectional MRI-Based Comparative Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Mechanical Signatures of Tibiofemoral Cartilage Degeneration Identified by Unconfined Compression Testing: Implications for Early Osteoarthritis Risk in Athletes.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Ruptures in Russian Premier League Soccer Players During the 2010 to 2021/2022 Competitive Seasons: The Epidemiology and Details of Return to Sports.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2024Article
- Influence of leg axis alignment on MRI T2* mapping of the knee in young professional soccer players.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Changes in ultrasound imaging of joints, entheses, bursae and tendons 24 and 48 h after adjusted weight training.Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2022Article
- Differences in the Demographics and Preferred Management of Knee Cartilage Injuries in Soccer Players Across FIFA Centers of Excellence.Cartilage · 2021Article
- Medial Meniscus Repair in Major League Soccer Players Results in Decreased Performance Metrics for One Year and Shortened Career Longevity.Open access journal of sports medicine · 2021Article
- Asymptomatic Foot and Ankle Abnormalities in Elite Professional Soccer Players.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2021Article
- The Effect of Training Experience and Leg Dominance on the Prevalence of Asymptomatic Intraarticular Changes of the Knee Joints in Adult Professional Male Soccer Players.Sports medicine - open · 2020Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCurrently, there are few data on the association between participation in soccer and the condition of the knee joints in adult professional players. HYPOTHESIS: A high percentage of professional soccer players will have asymptomatic intra-articular changes of the knee. STUDY
designCross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
methodsThe condition of the intra-articular structures (osteophytes, cartilage, and menisci) in 94 knee joints of 47 adult professional soccer players (mean ± SD age, 25.7 ± 4.6 years; body mass index, 22.8 ± 1.4 kg/m
resultsCartilage of both knee joints was affected in 97.9% of soccer players. Meniscal lesions were detected in 97.8% of joints, affecting both joints in 93.6% of athletes. Grade 2 cartilage lesions were the most prevalent (36%-60% depending on the lesion site), and grade 4 lesions were detected in 12.7% of joints. The medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau were most frequently affected by cartilage lesions (85.1%). Among meniscal lesions, grade 2 lesions were the most prevalent, being detected in 71% of the cases. Grade 3 lesions were detected in 13.8% of the joints. The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was the most common site of meniscal lesions (affected in 95.7% of the joints). Osteophytes were detected in 4.2% of joints.
conclusionThe prevalence of asymptomatic cartilage and meniscal lesions in the knees of adult professional soccer players is extremely high and is not associated with the reduction of sports involvement. This research should promote the correct interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from soccer players with acute trauma and the reduction of the number of unwarranted surgical procedures.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.