Weight-bearing cross-country running influences on the knee articular cartilage -a study using T2 MRI and muscle monitoring

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative method to acquire and analyze the transverse relaxation time (T2 relaxation) of the magnetic resonance imaging of in-vivo knee joint articular cartilage. To reveal the practical significance of this research, participants who underwent weight-bearing cross-country running were assessed by MR T2 imaging and knee functional test. As a result, temporary changes in the cartilage relaxation time at regions of interest were observed shortly post the running (P < 0.05), accompanying with EMG signal monitored in muscles around knee. This study shows the potentials of utilizing quantitative MRI T2 imaging technique as a non-invasive approach to detect the knee articular cartilage loading and stress, which is important for earlier prevention and intervention of cartilage lesions.