Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Young Swimmers and Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Ultrasonographic Study
International Journal of Clinical Practice, cilt.2026, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1155/ijcp/8087964
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Clinical Practice
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: football players, knee joint, mechanical stress, musculoskeletal, swimming
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Different sports expose the knee joint to distinct patterns of mechanical loading. Swimming is characterized by low-impact, predominantly non–weight-bearing activity, whereas football involves repetitive weight-bearing, impact, and rotational forces. These differences may influence femoral cartilage morphology. Purpose: To compare femoral cartilage thickness between young swimmers and football players using ultrasonography. Methods: This study included 62 asymptomatic male young athletes (33 swimmers and 29 football players) who were registered members of organized sports clubs and had at least three years of training experience. Femoral cartilage thickness was assessed at the lateral condyle, intercondylar area, and medial condyle using a portable ultrasound device with a linear probe. All measurements were performed by an experienced physiatrist with more than 5 years of expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasonography. Results: Femoral cartilage thickness at the lateral condyle, intercondylar area, and medial condyle was higher in football players compared to swimmers; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.281, p = 0.132, and p = 0.617, respectively). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences in femoral cartilage thickness were observed between young swimmers and football players. However, small sport-related differences in femoral cartilage morphology cannot be excluded, and the findings should be interpreted cautiously given the cross-sectional design and limited sample size of the study.