Articular cartilage injury

Due to its limited intrinsic healing capacity, Articular cartilage injuries are prevalent in football players. The injuries are caused either by chronic joint stress or acute traumatic loads and both can result in progressive and painful tissue deterioration.

Football is the most popular sport in the world with over 300 million players. The huge participation in football is unfortunately also associated with a large increase in the number of articular cartilage injuries, particularly in professional football players.

Articular cartilage injuries in athletes may occur in two different ways:

Chronic joint stress

Normal articular cartilage can resist physiologic levels of physical activity. However, repetitive, higher-impact loading can cause micro damage of the tissue as well as a decrease in the cartilage proteoglycan content, an increase in the level of degradative enzymes called proteases and chondrocyte apoptosis.

Acute traumatic injuries

Acute traumatic injuries result in such high loads that the cartilage and underlying subchondral bone is physically damaged. This type of injury usually occurs in conjunction with ligament or meniscal tears or dislocations.