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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases logoLink to Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
. 2005 Feb;64(2):291–295. doi: 10.1136/ard.2004.022400

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

F Eckstein 1, B Lemberger 1, C Gratzke 1, M Hudelmaier 1, C Glaser 1, K Englmeier 1, M Reiser 1
PMCID: PMC1755360  PMID: 15647438

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the deformational behaviour of articular cartilage in vivo is required to understand the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and the mechanical target environment of prospective cartilage transplant recipients.

Objectives: To study the in vivo deformational behaviour of patellar and femorotibial cartilage for different types of physiological activities; and to test the hypothesis that in vivo deformation of cartilage is modified by intense physical exercise.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging and 3D digital image analysis were used to determine cartilage volume before and after physical activity in the patella of 12 volunteers (knee bends, squatting, normal gait, running, cycling). Deformation of femorotibial cartilage was investigated in 10 subjects (knee bends, static compression, high impact loading). Patellar cartilage deformation after knee bends was compared in seven professional weight lifters, seven sprinters, and 14 untrained volunteers.

Results: Patellar cartilage deformation was –5.9% after knee bends, –4.7% after squatting, –2.8% after normal walking, –5.0% after running, and –4.5% after cycling. The pattern of patellar cartilage deformation corresponded to the range of motion involved in the particular activity. Tibial cartilage deformation was greatest under high impact loading (–7%), but small for other activities. No significant difference was found between athletes and non-athletic controls.

Conclusions: Patellar cartilage deformation shows a "dose dependent" response, where more intense loading leads to greater deformation. Relatively little deformation was observed in the femorotibial joint, except during high impact activities. The findings provide no evidence that adult human cartilage properties are amendable to training effects in vivo.

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Figure 1.

Figure 1

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 Magnitude of patellar cartilage deformation after knee bends, squatting (20 second static loading at 90° knee flexion), normal walking, running (including steps), and cycling.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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 Regional variation of deformation throughout the patella for different types of activities; average over all 12 volunteers. View on the retropatellar surface from posteriorly (lateral facet on the right and medial facet on the left). Dark areas are regions of high deformation and lighter areas are regions of low deformation. The results show that activities with a limited range of knee motion (squatting and walking) lead to deformation of some confined areas, whereas activities that involve a larger range of motion lead to more widespread deformation of patellar cartilage.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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 Magnitude of femorotibial cartilage deformation after high impact loading for the medial tibia, lateral tibia, medial femoral condyle, and lateral femoral condyle.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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