29% of the players are at risk of developing osteoarthritis of knee.

21st Conference of the Association Gallega of Medicine of the sport.

-to high-level competition, injuries and the strain of the joint are the main factors to finish developing arthrosis

-El Dr. Villalón, Chief of the medical services of the Atlético de Madrid, points out that the possibilities increase after suffering an injury in the joint

– the chondroprotection arises as the set of measures to preventdelay, stabilize, repair and even reverse the lesions caused by arthrosis

Sarria, Lugo, November of 2011- the relationship between sport and damage to the joints is a growing concern for sports medicine specialists. According to a published study in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, 29% of the players, 31% of weight lifters and 14% of the runners run the risk of developing osteoarthritis because the practice of sport to high-level, injuries and the strain of the joint. For that reason, the Galician Association of sports medicine has focused 21st days per year, held the last weekend in Sarria (Lugo), diseases of the locomotor apparatus and, in particular, in risks that have athletes suffering from diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory and degenerative locomotor disease due to wear and tear of the joints. In the case of high level athletes, osteoarthritis appears especially in hip and knee, as a result of repeated use and injuries.

In particular, 29 per cent of the professional footballers at risk of developing arthrosis of knee, compared to 3% of players not of elite.

Dr. José María Villalón, specialist in medicine of physical education and sport and head of the medical services of the Atlético de Madrid, has explained that osteoarthritis in professional football players often occur because of injuries. There is a significant risk of suffering from arthritis to the receiving repeated or serious blows to the joint. But even children who make sport under pressure may suffer injury of cartilage in the future can evolve to arthrosis. ”, emphasizes Dr. Villalón.

Given the growing concern in this regard, current sports medicine arises as main objective the prevention of injury condral (of articulation) as well as medical and surgical treatment. Cartilage pathology prevention should start from childhood through rules and tips to follow.

As outlined by Dr. Josep Vergés, specialist in clinical pharmacology and Medical Director and scientist of Pharma Bioiberica , the best way to treat a sports injury is to avoid it, so the chondroprotection is a term of extraordinary insight into the first decade of the 21st centuryWHO devoted to the study of prevention and treatment of Osteoarticular diseases ”.

Dr. Vergés explained that the chondroprotection is the set of pharmacological and non pharmacological measures to prevent, delay, stabilize, repair or even reverse the lesions caused by osteoarthritis cartilage and/or bone subcondral. Condroprotectores drugs (term meaning literally: protective drugs of cartilage) are acting drugs symptomatic slow (SYSADOA) that act directly on the three joint structures affected by osteoarthritis: articulating cartilage, synovial membrane, and the subcondral bone. They not only relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but it is proving that they have capacity to attack root disease, slowing down the degenerative process that takes place in the joints.

Dr. Villalón has referred to the consensus document on chondroprotection in sports medicine, precisely during the day, signed by the major scientific societies of this specialization.

The Conference also addressed new techniques to treat arthritis such as growth factors, stem cell therapies or the professional pilates. Among the speakers there doctors, physiotherapists, rehabilitation and professors from León, Madrid, Barcelona, Lugo and A Coruña.