There is no doubt that exercise and playing sport are good for your health but not treating injuries correctly can have serious negative implications on your well-being. Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of disability in Ireland and is expected to grow annually to epidemic proportions by 2020. It is caused by general wear and tear but also damage to the joints - a large share of which is happening on our playing fields and athletics tracks.

According to research conducted by St Vincent’s Hospital and Arthritis Ireland, players of high impact sports, such as GAA, rugby and soccer, are ten times more likely to end up with arthritis than the general population.

The findings of the study also show:

• Sportsmen (65%) experience high levels of pain and stiffness compared to the general population (10%).
• The pain and stiffness was worse after training and made life uncomfortable, interfering with mild everyday activities, such as walking and golf in 46% of sportsmen.
• More than 70% of sportsmen are highly concerned about arthritis but have very low levels of knowledge on how to manage it.

How do I protect myself from injury?

How do I protect my child from injury?