Concern over arthritic joints

Thousands of physically active people in the UK may be destined to develop disabling damage to their joints, it was claimed today.

The charity Arthritis Research UK said there was an urgent need to understand more about the long-term risks of sports injury.

A campaign aimed at gathering evidence about the association between common sports injuries and osteoarthritis was launched by the charity today.

It has conducted research which suggests that more than half the active public have sustained injuries such as sprained and torn ligaments and bone fractures due to sport. Many of them are likely to develop arthritic changes in their joints ten or 20 years after their injury.