Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees
The prevalence of varus knee malalignment among junior and adult football players (FP) has proven to be higher compared to other sports. No causal relationship has yet been found, as genu varum can be assumed to be an independent risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/13/7928 |
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| author | Clemens Memmel André Denzlein Dominik Szymski Lorenz Huber Leonard Achenbach Stephan Gerling Volker Alt Werner Krutsch Matthias Koch |
| author_facet | Clemens Memmel André Denzlein Dominik Szymski Lorenz Huber Leonard Achenbach Stephan Gerling Volker Alt Werner Krutsch Matthias Koch |
| author_sort | Clemens Memmel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The prevalence of varus knee malalignment among junior and adult football players (FP) has proven to be higher compared to other sports. No causal relationship has yet been found, as genu varum can be assumed to be an independent risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to compare knee alignment measurements and sport-specific data of adolescent football players and referees (REF). Knee alignment was detected by measuring the intercondylar/intermalleolar distance (ICD/IMD) as well as the Hip–Knee–Ankle angle (HKA) using a standardized digital frontal-plane photograph. Anthropometric and sports-related data (training/match exposure, seasons actively played, etc.) were collected by means of questionnaires (Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00020446). A total of 28 male FP and 29 male adolescent REF were included in the survey. The mean age was 17.4 ± 0.7 years. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight, BMI, and overall football/refereeing exposure per week (FP vs. REF: 274 vs. 285 min/week, <i>p</i> = 0.61). The HKA of the FP was significantly lower (toward varus) than that of the REF (177.6° ± 2.4° vs. 179.0° ± 2.4°; <i>p</i> < 0.001). However, ICD did not significantly differ (FP: 17 ± 25 mm, REF: 13 ± 27 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.55). The football environment with frequent football exposure seems to have an influence on leg axis deviation in FP compared to REF. For prevention of knee osteoarthritis in FP, an advanced understanding of leg axis development in adolescent players is essential and, therefore, needs further research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:46:10Z |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:46:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-73b299535ecb47309a899d08b20692802023-11-18T16:13:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-07-011313792810.3390/app13137928Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and RefereesClemens Memmel0André Denzlein1Dominik Szymski2Lorenz Huber3Leonard Achenbach4Stephan Gerling5Volker Alt6Werner Krutsch7Matthias Koch8Department of Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics, Clinic St. Hedwig, Barmherzige Brueder Regensburg, KUNO Pediatric University Medical Center and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Koenig-Ludwig-Haus, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Campus St. Hedwig, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, 93049 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery and FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyThe prevalence of varus knee malalignment among junior and adult football players (FP) has proven to be higher compared to other sports. No causal relationship has yet been found, as genu varum can be assumed to be an independent risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to compare knee alignment measurements and sport-specific data of adolescent football players and referees (REF). Knee alignment was detected by measuring the intercondylar/intermalleolar distance (ICD/IMD) as well as the Hip–Knee–Ankle angle (HKA) using a standardized digital frontal-plane photograph. Anthropometric and sports-related data (training/match exposure, seasons actively played, etc.) were collected by means of questionnaires (Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00020446). A total of 28 male FP and 29 male adolescent REF were included in the survey. The mean age was 17.4 ± 0.7 years. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight, BMI, and overall football/refereeing exposure per week (FP vs. REF: 274 vs. 285 min/week, <i>p</i> = 0.61). The HKA of the FP was significantly lower (toward varus) than that of the REF (177.6° ± 2.4° vs. 179.0° ± 2.4°; <i>p</i> < 0.001). However, ICD did not significantly differ (FP: 17 ± 25 mm, REF: 13 ± 27 mm; <i>p</i> = 0.55). The football environment with frequent football exposure seems to have an influence on leg axis deviation in FP compared to REF. For prevention of knee osteoarthritis in FP, an advanced understanding of leg axis development in adolescent players is essential and, therefore, needs further research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/13/7928bowlegsvarus knee alignmentknee malalignmentgenu varumjunior football |
| spellingShingle | Clemens Memmel André Denzlein Dominik Szymski Lorenz Huber Leonard Achenbach Stephan Gerling Volker Alt Werner Krutsch Matthias Koch Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees Applied Sciences bowlegs varus knee alignment knee malalignment genu varum junior football |
| title | Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees |
| title_full | Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees |
| title_fullStr | Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees |
| title_short | Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees |
| title_sort | playing football as a risk factor for lower leg malalignment comparing lower leg axis of male adolescent football players and referees |
| topic | bowlegs varus knee alignment knee malalignment genu varum junior football |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/13/7928 |
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