Platelet-rich plasma in knee osteoarthritis in the athlete

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of synovial joints. It is the result of mechanical stress and biochemical cellular changes that cause pain and impair joint function. Osteoarthritis is the eighth leading non-fatal burden of disease worldwide and a major cause of disability [1]. The prevalence of symptomatic OA increases with age and it is estimated that 18% of women and 9.6% of men over age 60 have knee OA [1]. With increased longevity in the population the burden and prevalence of this disease is expected to grow [2]. Furthermore, the epidemic of obesity and resultant motivation to exercise, often through sports, places more middle and older adults at risk of developing degenerative joint disease [3]. For the aging and former athlete, OA may be a result of active adolescence and result from prior ligamentous injury, meniscal trauma, or joint dislocation. In a recent study, aging male athletes were 1.6 times more likely to develop knee OA than controls [4].