Saina Nehwal’s arthritis diagnosis: How years of competitive sport can impact body

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal recently disclosed how arthritis forced her to retire from her long and successful badminton career. In an interview with Hauterrfly, the former Olympic medallist discussed the daily challenges she now faces after a 25-year sporting career. She reflected that while life had become more difficult, she was determined to make each day tougher in her new role.

According to Dr Sanjeev Jain, Chief of Orthopaedics at KIMS Hospitals, the answer is yes—especially for elite athletes. He explained that years of intense training, repeated impact, and sports injuries can progressively wear down joints. High-intensity activities, frequent changes in direction, and heavy impact gradually damage the cartilage inside joints.

Serious joint injuries like ligament tears, meniscus tears, or fractures can also accelerate cartilage damage and change the way the joint functions, leading to arthritis at a younger age.

Dr Jain emphasized that while arthritis is not inevitable, a long sporting career combined with past injuries can lead to osteoarthritis appearing earlier than expected. Early warning signs include persistent joint pain, morning stiffness, swelling, reduced flexibility, clicking or grinding sensations, and pain returning during activity. If symptoms persist or worsen, athletes should seek medical attention from an orthopaedic specialist.

Receiving a diagnosis doesn't mean an athlete must stop exercising. Dr Jain advised that staying active is crucial for maintaining joint health. Instead of high-impact activities, athletes should focus on joint-friendly exercises like swimming, cycling, walking, yoga, and strength training. Emphasizing weight management, physiotherapy, proper footwear, and adjusting activity levels can also help protect joints. The key is to stay active while safeguarding joint health, not to avoid movement altogether.