A study, published in 'New Scientist', found that while most knee injuries happen on the field of play, a proportion are caused by sexual infections. These cause an immune system response which makes joints inflamed and sore - and if left untreated, could cause permanent damage. Researchers at Queen Mary and Westfield College found that half of a small sample of athletes found to have the problem were top-class footballers. Young, rich and available On average, each of them had spent eight months unable to play because of the condition before being diagnosed. Researcher Paul Oyudo said that half the infected group admitted having more than 11 sexual partners in their lifetime - a level of activity matched by only one in four British men.
Footballers appear to be the greatest culprits.
They are very rich and have lots of spare time. Both infections are hard to diagnose, although sufferers have eye and urethral inflammation and tender, swollen, joints. A spokesman for Arthritis Care, a support group for sufferers of all types of arthritis, said that many young people were unaware of the potential damage caused by these types of infection. It can be treated by antibiotics, although in a very few cases it can cause deformity. The Family Planning Association has recently introduced a nationwide poster campaign warning young people, particularly women, about the dangers of chlamydia infection, which can cause infertility.