Risks, consequences and pathophysiologic pathways associated with lower limb Osteoarthritis in professional soccer athletes: a narrative review

The objective of this narrative review was to relate the pathophysiological knowledge of Osteoarthritis to the specific context of professional soccer, addressing the risks and consequences for athletes of the modality. The search bases used were PubMed, LILACS, Scielo, Embase and Google Scholar and the narrative review model was applied to synthesize the relevant information. Professional soccer participation exposes players to the highest frequencies and intensities of loads and joint injuries in the lower limbs. These factors are associated with greater risks of osteoarthritis development. Retired soccer athletes have a high prevalence of the disease. This scenario provides an impairment network that connects symptoms and joint limitations to the reduction in the quality of life of this population. Understanding microprocesses through the study of specific pathophysiological pathways, contribute to the evolution of monitoring, prevention and early intervention strategies for this population.