title: Professional football can be considered a healthy sport?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the results of knee MRIs of former football players with no previous knee surgeries with non-regular practitioners of impact sports, matched by age and sex, and combine these results with other variables such as current quality of life and pain in the knees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants were 16 male former professional football players and 21 male volunteers from different non-sports professional areas. All participants underwent bilateral magnetic resonances. Specific knee evaluations with regard to osteoarthritis and quality of life were performed in both groups by applying the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subjective questionnaires and SF-36, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The between-group comparison revealed significant differences on: pain, symptoms, and quality of life related to the knee in KOOS subscales; physical aspects and vitality subscale of SF-36; and former soccer players had worst magnetic resonances scores than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study indicate probable specific adverse effects associated with participating in professional football.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, Level III.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia do Esporte (CETE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Borges Lagoa, 783, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04038-032, Brazil. ggarliani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gustavo Gonçalves
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Arliani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia do Esporte (CETE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Borges Lagoa, 783, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04038-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Costa
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Astur
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Kim Fukunishi
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andre Fukunishi
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: da Rocha Corrêa Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia do Esporte (CETE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Borges Lagoa, 783, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04038-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ejnisman
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia do Esporte (CETE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Borges Lagoa, 783, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04038-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Castro Pochini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia do Esporte (CETE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP/EPM), Rua Borges Lagoa, 783, 5° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04038-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Football; Knee; MRI; Osteoarthritis; Retirement; Soccer