Table 1

Descriptive characteristics of recently retired professional football players and rugby players

FootballRugby
Total
(n=401)		Ankle OA
(n=37)		No ankle OA
(n=364)		Total
(n=152)		Ankle OA
(n=7)		No ankle OA
(n=145)
Age in years*, median (IQR; min–max)/mean±SD36 (32–40; 25–50)39 (36–42; 27–49)*36 (32–40; 25–50)*40±641±740±6
Height in cm, mean±SD/median (IQR; min–max)181±7180±7182±7186 (180–191; 166–203)191 (173–192; 172–192)186 (180–191; 166–203)
Weight in kg, mean±SD/median (IQR; min–max)82±982±1382±9100 (91–114; 59–170)108 (89–123; 82–130)100 (91–113; 59–170)
BMI in kg/m2, median (IQR; min–max)24.8 (23.5–26.2; 20.1–32.7)24.8 (22.9–26.6; 20.3–29)24.7 (23.5–26.1; 20.1–32.7)29 (27.1–31.4; 20.4–52.5)32.2 (28.5–33.7; 27.4–35.3)*28.9 (27.0–31.2; 20.4–52.5)*
Employed in % (n)89 (350)92(33)89
(317)		91
(139)		86
(6)		92
(133)
Professional career duration in years, median (IQR; min–max)13
(10–15; 2–19)		13
(12–16; 5–18)		13
(9–15; 2–19)		10
(7–15; 2–20)		10
(8–12.5; 8–13)		10
(7–15; 2–20)
Retirement duration in years, median (IQR; min–max)4
(2–7; 1–17)		5
(3–9; 1–12)		4
(2–7; 1–17)		8
(3–12; 0–22)		12
(2–16; 1–19)		8
(4–11; 0–22)
Level of play, top league, % (n)81
(314)		92
(34)		80
(280)		80
(106)		86
(6)		80
(100)
Forced retirement, % (n)29
(113)		27
(10)		30
(103)		36
(55)		57
(4)		35
(51)
Severe ankle injuries, median (IQR; min–max)1
(0–2; 0–10)		2
(1–3; 0–10)		1
(0–2; 0–10)		1
(0–2; 0–20)		1
(1–2; 0–3)		1
(0–2; 0–20)
Ankle surgeries, median (IQR; min–max)0
(0–0; 0–5)		1
(0–2; 0–5)		0
(0–0; 0–5)		0
(0–0; 0–4)		1
(0–1; 0–2)		0
(0–0; 0–4)

  • *Statistically significant difference between ankle OA and no ankle OA.

  • BMI, body mass index; max, maximum; min, minimum; n, number; OA, osteoarthritis.