Cartilage recovery in runners with and without knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: Running is an easy way of meeting physical activity recommendations for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, it remains unknown how their cartilage reacts to running. The objective of this pilot study was to compare the effects of 30 min of running on T2 and T1ρ relaxation times of tibiofemoral cartilage in female runners with and without KOA. Methods: Ten female runners with symptomatic KOA (mean age 52.6 ± 7.6 years) and 10 without KOA (mean age 52.5 ± 7.8 years) ran for 30 min on a treadmill. Tibiofemoral cartilage T2 and T1ρ relaxation times were measured using magnetic resonance imaging prior to and immediately after the bout of running. Repeated-measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were conducted to examine between-group differences across scanning times. Results: No Group × Time interactions were found for T2 (P ≥ 0.076) or T1ρ (P ≥ 0.288) relaxation times. However, runners with KOA showed increased T2 values compared with prerunning in the medial and lateral femur 55 min post-running (5.4 to 5.5%, P b 0.022) and in all four tibiofemoral compartments 90 min post-running (6.9 to 11.1%, P b 0.01). A significant group effect was found for T1ρ in the medial femur, with greater values in those with KOA compared with controls. Conclusion: While Group × Time interactions in T2 and T1ρ relaxation times remained statistically insignificant, the observed significant increases in T2 in runners with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis TFOA may suggest slower and continuing changes in the cartilage and thus a need for longer recovery after running. Future research should investigate the effects of repeated exposure to running.

How Physical Activity Affects Knee Cartilage and a Standard Intervention Procedure for an Exercise Program: A Systematic Review

“…Walking is the simplest aerobic activity without adverse effects on articular cartilage metabolism [ 21 ]; indeed, there is no association between daily walking and structural changes over two years in people at risk of or with mild knee OA [ 46 ]. If walking is not sufficient, also running is a suitable intervention, the only precaution is that people with OA require longer recovery times [ 26 ]. Another precaution to consider when running is to increase the step rate frequency that decreases cartilage contact area, impact peak and cartilage contact pressure [ 47 ].…”

Characterizing the transient response of knee cartilage to running: Decreases in cartilage T2 of female recreational runners

“…T 1ρ has a larger dynamic range than T 2 to detect changes postexercise, however T 1ρ takes longer to acquire and does not extend easily to bilateral scanning, so cannot be used to evaluate asymmetry between knees nor subtle regional cartilage differences. 16,20 Data collection in a larger female population with similar characteristics is necessary to expand these results. Additional investigation is also necessary to determine the transient cartilage T 2 response in male and/or older populations.…”

“…Healthy cartilage T 2 can recover within minutes of exercise even after long-distance running (>20 km) indicating changes in collagen fiber orientation and water content may be temporary. 15,16 However, the time evolution of these changes is poorly understood. Previous studies examined either immediate or delayed effects of running on cartilage T 2 (within 4 min, 20 min, or 48 h of running, respectively) 9,16,17 but not time points in between.…”

“…15,16 However, the time evolution of these changes is poorly understood. Previous studies examined either immediate or delayed effects of running on cartilage T 2 (within 4 min, 20 min, or 48 h of running, respectively) 9,16,17 but not time points in between. Cartilage T 2 measurements limited to one snapshot may miss subtle changes that transient analysis could uncover.…”

“…Historically, longer scan times characteristic of quantitative MRI (8-20 min, depending on the sequence) have restricted transient analysis of running-induced cartilage T 2 changes. 16 Transient analysis has become possible due to recent developments in 3D scan sequences, which allow for observation of short-term transient cartilage behaviors. 18,19 Novel, time-efficient (5 min) sequences like bilateral quantitative 3D double-echo in steady-state (qDESS) make transient analysis possible.…”