Long-term evolution of cartilage abnormalities and osteophytes in the fingers of elite sport climbers: A cross-sectional 10-year follow-up study.

Pastor, Torsten; Schweizer, Andreas; Reissner, Lisa; Pastor, Tatjana; Spörri, Jörg; Fröhlich, Stefan (2022). Long-term evolution of cartilage abnormalities and osteophytes in the fingers of elite sport climbers: A cross-sectional 10-year follow-up study. European journal of sport science, 22(9), pp. 1452-1458. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/17461391.2021.1943716

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The sequelae of high mechanical stress to the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of the fingers in elite sport climbers and its contribution to the development of osteoarthritis are still relatively unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the evolution of cartilage abnormalities of the PIP and DIP joints, as well as the progress of osteophytes, in the fingers of elite sport climbers with a minimum of 25 years of climbing history over the time period of the last 10 years. Moreover, their actual cartilage abnormalities and osteophyte occurrence were compared to non-climbing age-matched controls. Thirty-one elite male sport climbers and 15 male non-climbers underwent a sonographic examination of the PIP and DIP joint cartilage and osteophyte thickness in the frontal and sagittal plane of digits II-V of both hands. The same cohort had already been measured with an identical protocol 10 years earlier (follow-up rate of 100%). Compared to the baseline assessment 10 years earlier, the cartilage thickness of sport climbers has significantly decreased; however, it was still greater than in age-matched controls. Moreover, sport climbers showed significantly higher relative frequencies of osteophyte occurrence than non-climbers (all fingers and joints). Nevertheless, despite a substantial (and compared to baseline a further increased) occurrence of osteophytes in elite sport climbers, there was no association between the radiological signs of osteoarthritis and pain within the last six months prior the follow-up investigation.Highlights Long-term elite climbers show thicker cartilage and occurrence of Osteophytes in their fingers (especially Digit III) compared to controls already early in their career.Later occurrence of osteophytes increases (especially Digit II and IV) and cartilage decreases but is still thicker compared to controls. No association between those findings and pain was found.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery > Hand Surgery 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery
UniBE Contributor:	Pastor, Tatjana
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	1746-1391
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Language:	English
Submitter:	Veronika Picha
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2022 10:11
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:56
Publisher DOI:	10.1080/17461391.2021.1943716
PubMed ID:	34121624
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Athletes climbing finger joint hand osteoarthritis overuse
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/162355