Anabolic – Androgenic steroids or AAS was found to be highly related to specific musculo-skeletal injuries, according to Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. A confidential survey was sent to a group of retired NFL members regarding health issues and problems they encountered after their retirement. Respondents’ average age is at 54 years and their average playing career is at 6.6 years.

Some of the questions included the use of AAS, and 9.1% of them confessed to using this performance – enhancing steroids.They reportedly had higher incidence of joint ligament and cartilage injuries rather than actual injuries to the muscle itself. Some of these injuries include knee ligaments and menisci injuries, herniated spinal disks, elbow injuries, neck “stinger” and “burner” injuries and injuries to the ankle, foot and toes. No injuries like biceps or triceps tear were reported.This, according to senior author, professor and research director at the University of North Carolina, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC may lead to other chronic diseases among which include osteoarthritis, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse and even depression in later life.

More data, however, are needed to establish the link between steroids and muskulo-skleletal related injuries since the study proves to have some limitations to it.

From American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:

“Steroid users also had an increased risk of osteoarthritis, depression and increased alcohol use later in life. In general, they were less able to maintain physically active lifestyles after retirement. The report found that players who used AAS actually had lower rates of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. However, there were only limited cases and they may reflect the fact that most of the players who used steroids have yet to reach old age, rather than any true decrease among steroid users.

The effects of AAS in increasing muscle size and strength are well known. Amid concerns about the risk of serious health effects, there are little or no data on how steroids affect the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The NFL began enforcing its ban on AAS use by players in 1989. The athletes in the new survey were asked about their use of steroids “when it was acceptable.”

The results lend new insights into the risks of musculoskeletal injury associated with AAS use. The injury patterns suggest that joint ligaments and cartilage may not adapt to steroid-induced muscle changes. It may be that ligaments and cartilage, rather than tendons, are the “weakest link in the chain” leading to injury, according to Dr. Horn and colleagues.

The negative effect on joint health may be only the start of the adverse health effects of steroid use, Dr. Guskiewicz believes. “I call it a snowball effect, with joint injuries contributing to the gradual development of other medical problems, such as osteoarthritis, physical inactivity, depression, obesity, and diabetes.”

Tags: muskulo-skeletal injuries, NFL, performance enhancing steroids

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