Incomplete restoration of immobilization induced softening of young beagle knee articular cartilage after 50-week remobilization

Haapala J, Arokoski J, Hyttinen MM, et al. · International Journal of Sports Medicine

Immobilization cut cartilage shear stiffness by up to 30%; after nearly a year of remobilization the lateral femoral condyle remained ~15% softer than controls — disuse damage is only partly reversible.

Population

Young beagle dogs immobilized 11 weeks then remobilized 50 weeks

Intervention

Immobilization followed by prolonged remobilization

Comparator

Non-immobilized controls

Limitations

Animal model; young growing joints; unclear translation of residual softening to clinical OA risk.