No abstract

A radiological study of osteoarthrosis of the hips and knees has been performed in 364 female specialist physical education teachers, aged 46--60 years, who qualified between the years 1935 and 1950. The teachers were contacted by postal questionnaire and A.P. radiographs of the pelvis and knees were performed at a hospital in their residential locality. These were then read by two rheumatologists in consultation and graded for osteoarthrosis by comparison with the Atlas of Standard Radiographs. These gradings were compared with those of similarly aged females in the general population obtained in the Leigh and Wensleydale surveys. Moderate and severe osteoarthrosis of the knees was equally common in the teachers and the general population but minimal and mild osteoarthrosis was significantly less common in the teachers (p less than 0.001). Osteoarthrosis of the hips was more common in the teachers than in the population, though not to a statistically significant degree. An association was noted in the teachers between osteoarthrosis of the hips and ossification in the region of the greater trochanter. The results suggest that female physical education teachers are no more prone to the development of premature osteoarthrosis of the hips and knees than is the general population, but there may be a subgroup who, because of excess use of hypermobility of the hip joints, develop osteoarthrosis as a consequence.

A postal questionnaire designed to assess joint laxity was sent to 364 specialist female teachers of physical education who had participated in a radiological survey on the lumbar spine. 295 replied and in this group the prevalence of spondylolisthesis was 4%. Although statistical analysis failed to demonstrate a significant association between generalized joint laxity, measured with a simple scoring system, and radiological spondylolisthesis, spondylolisthesis was found to correlate with known associations of joint laxity such as flat feet. Adults with spondylolisthesis considered themselves more supple in youth than adults without spondylolisthesis.

Three hundred and sixty-four female specialist teachers of physical education who qualified between 1935 and 1950 agreed to have x-rays of the lumbar spine, hips and knees. Fifty-two had osteoarthrosis of the hip, 65 osteoarthrosis of the knee and 221 degenerative change in the spine. Overall osteoarthrosis of the knee was significantly less common than in a comparable sample from the general population (p < 0.001), severe or moderate osteoarthrosis being equally common in both groups but minor or minimal osteoarthrosis being much less common in the teachers. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of osteoarthrosis of the hip between the two populations though severe osteoarthrosis of the hip was slightly more common in the teachers.A postal questionnaire, attempting to determine factors that might have contributed to the pathogenesis of osteoarthrosis was sent out and 291 (80%) replied.Radiological changes were not related to height but there was a slight association with increased weight. Family history was often contributory and nine subjects had had a meniscectomy which probably contributed to osteoarthrosis of the knee.Joint laxity may produce osteoarthrosis and subjects scored their own laxity status with two simple scoring systems. Overall joint laxity did not correlate with degenerative change in the spine. There was a slight association of laxity with OA of the hip and knee but this did not reach significant levels.Regular physical exercise may protect from osteoarthrosis in lax joints by producing stability through increased muscular tone.

No abstract