Cam morphology describes an asphericity of the femoral head that develops during adolescence, is highly prevalent in athletes, and predisposes individuals to future osteoarthritis. However, it’s aetiology remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to perform 3-year longitudinal follow-up of a control population and football club academy cohort to compare the change in hip and growth plate anatomy between athletes and controls. MRI and questionnaires were used to characterise change in hip and growth plate anatomy and quantify activity levels. 121 male academy footballers and 107 male and female controls participated at baseline. Footballers experienced significantly greater increases in femoral head asphericity (4.83 degrees (95% CI: 2.84 to 6.82), p < 0.001) than controls. A positive correlation existed between activity levels and change in femoral head morphology (coefficient 0.79, p ≤ 0.001). Greatest morphological change occurred in individuals aged 11–12 years at baseline, with no significant change in individuals aged 14 years and older at baseline. Cam morphology development was secondary to soft tissue hypertrophy and lateral growth plate extension. In conclusion, excessive loading of the hip joint through exercise prior to 14 years of age may result in growth plate adaptations causing cam morphology. Potential interventions may include training type and load modification in young adolescent football players.

凸轮形态描述了在青春期发展的股骨头的非球面性，在运动员中非常普遍，并且使个体易患未来的骨关节炎。然而，它的病因仍然知之甚少。本研究的目的是对对照人群和足球俱乐部学院队列进行为期 3 年的纵向随访，以比较运动员和对照人群的髋关节和生长板解剖结构的变化。MRI 和问卷用于表征髋关节和生长板解剖结构的变化并量化活动水平。121 名男性学院足球运动员和 107 名男性和女性对照组参加了基线。足球运动员的股骨头非球面度（4.83 度（95% CI：2.84 至 6.82），p < 0.001）比对照组显着增加。活动水平与股骨头形态变化之间存在正相关（系数 0.79，p ≤ 0.001）。最大的形态变化发生在基线时 11-12 岁的个体中，基线时 14 岁及以上的个体没有显着变化。凸轮形态发展继发于软组织肥大和横向生长板延伸。总之，在 14 岁之前通过运动过度负荷髋关节可能会导致生长板适应导致凸轮形态。潜在的干预措施可能包括青少年足球运动员的训练类型和负荷调整。14 岁及以上的人在基线时没有显着变化。凸轮形态发展继发于软组织肥大和横向生长板延伸。总之，在 14 岁之前通过运动过度负荷髋关节可能会导致生长板适应导致凸轮形态。潜在的干预措施可能包括青少年足球运动员的训练类型和负荷调整。14 岁及以上的人在基线时没有显着变化。凸轮形态发展继发于软组织肥大和横向生长板延伸。总之，在 14 岁之前通过运动过度负荷髋关节可能会导致生长板适应导致凸轮形态。潜在的干预措施可能包括青少年足球运动员的训练类型和负荷调整。