Retired female Olympians had a higher prevalence of shoulder, lower back, neck, hip and knee joint pain or osteoarthritis when compared with the female general population.
Elite sport
One in five elite retired sportswomen reported a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, the form of arthritis that causes changes in the joint and can lead to discomfort, pain and disability, the research showed.
The differences were only partly down to previous injuries, suggesting training and performing at an elite level contributes to these outcomes, the researchers say.
The athletes surveyed had competed in at least one summer or winter Olympic games in sports including athletics, gymnastics and skiing.
International study
The study is the largest international survey to explore the long-term musculoskeletal and general health outcomes of retired female elite athletes across different summer and winter Olympic sports.
Researchers hope the findings will help develop new approaches for injury prevention and support the health of female athletes in their career and in retirement.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh surveyed 1488 retired female Olympians aged around 41, but ranging from 16 to 88 years old, on injuries and the health of their bones, joints, muscles and spine. They were asked if they were currently experiencing joint pain, and if they had an osteoarthritis diagnosis.
Regular exercise
They also quizzed the groups on their general health and how regularly they exercised after retirement from elite sport.
For comparison, 998 females aged around 41 from the general population completed the same survey.
The team considered factors that could influence the presence of pain and osteoarthritis such as injury, age, sex and body mass index in both groups.
Joint health
They found joint health at the shoulder, upper and lower spine and the hip and knee was poorer for retired female Olympians compared with the general population, with them more frequently suffering joint pain, stiffness and or osteoarthritis in those areas. Despite these musculoskeletal complaints, they still rated their health-related quality of life highly.
There were no other major differences in levels of general health between groups, however, cases of diabetes, hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis were slightly higher for Olympians from their careers to retirement.
There was also a spike in self-reported depression rates among female Olympians as they transitioned into retirement, although this reduced overtime.
Weekly participation in a sporting or leisure activity was also lower in retired elite sportspeople compared to with the female general population, although participation in regular exercise – such as walking was similar.