In vivo cartilage deformation after different types of activity and its dependence on physical training status

Eckstein F, et al. · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Cartilage deforms 2.8-5.9% depending on activity and recovers afterwards; deformation magnitude did not differ by training status, suggesting adult cartilage modulates its biology more than its thickness in response to chronic loading.

Population

Healthy volunteers (7 weight lifters, 7 sprinters, 14 untrained)

Intervention

Knee bends, walking, running, cycling with quantitative MRI before/after

Comparator

Within-subject, across activities and training status

Limitations

Small physiological study in healthy knees; acute deformation is a surrogate, not a disease outcome.