LAUSR

CONTEXT Repetitive joint use is a risk factor for osteoarthritis, which is a leading cause of disability. Sports requiring a racket or bat to perform repetitive high-velocity impacts may increase the risk of thumb-base osteoarthritis. However, this hypothesis remains untested. OBJECTIVE To determine if a history of participation in racket or bat sports was associated with the prevalence of thumb-base osteoarthritis. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiologic study. SETTING Four US clinical sites associated with the Osteoarthritis Initiative. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS We recruited 2309 men and women from the community. Eligible participants had dominant-hand radiographic readings, hand symptom assessments, and historical physical activity survey data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) A history of exposure to racket or bat sports (badminton, baseball or softball, racketball or squash, table tennis [or ping pong], tennis [doubles], or tennis [singles]) was based on self-reported recall data covering 3 age ranges (12-18, 19-34, and 35-49 years). Prevalent radiographic thumb-base osteoarthritis was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence grade >2 in the first carpometacarpal joint or scaphotrapezoidal joint at the Osteoarthritis Initiative baseline visit. Symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis was defined as radiographic osteoarthritis and hand or finger symptoms. RESULTS Radiographic or symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis was present in 355 (34%) and 56 (5%), respectively, of men (total = 1049) and 535 (42%) and 170 (13%), respectively, of women (total = 1260). After adjusting for age, race, and education level, we found no significant associations between a history of any racket or bat sport participation and thumb-base osteoarthritis (radiographic or symptomatic; odds ratios ranged from 0.82 to 1.34). CONCLUSIONS In a community-based cohort, a self-reported history of participation in racket or bat sports was not associated with increased odds of having radiographic or symptomatic thumb-base osteoarthritis in the dominant hand.