Fig. 4.

Running-induced changes to cartilage thickness and strain. (A) Cartilage thickness decreased significantly pre-to post-exercise for both the tibial (p ​< ​0.0001) and femoral (p ​< ​0.01) cartilage. Subsequently, cartilage thickness increased back towards baseline thickness at the recovery time point for both the tibial (p ​< ​0.0001) and femoral (p ​< ​0.01) cartilage. Significant differences between baseline and recovery were not detected for either the tibial (p ​= ​0.37) or femoral (p ​= ​0.60) cartilage. (B) Running induced post-exercise compressive strains of 5.4 ​% (95 ​% CI ​= ​4.1 to 6.7) and 2.3 ​% (95 ​% CI ​= ​0.6 to 4.0) for the tibial and femoral cartilage, respectively.