High and low activity levels can affect knee cartilage degeneration

California researchers have found that knee cartilage degeneration can occur in adults with both high and low levels of activity.

Using MRI-based T2 relaxation times, the researchers found that high impact activities, such as running, cause cartilage degeneration and higher T2 relaxation times, according to the abstract. The values were measured in the right knee at the patella as well as medial and lateral tibia and femur at baseline, 2-year and 4-year follow-up.

“When we compared scores among groups, we found an accelerated progression of T2 relaxation times in those who were the most physically active,” Thomas M. Link, MD, chief of musculoskeletal imaging and professor of radiology at the University of California in San Francisco, stated in a press release. “Those who had very low levels of activity also had accelerated progression of T2 values. This suggests that there may be an optimal level of physical activity to preserve the cartilage.”

Concerning T2 values, the progression was higher in the highest tertile than in the mid-tertile in the medial tibia, in the patella and in all the average T2 of all the knee compartments combined, according to the abstract. There was also a statistically insignificantly higher T2 progression in the lowest tertile than the mid-tertile in all components.

Reference:

Wilson L. High levels of physical activity are associated with greater cartilage degeneration over a period of 4 years as assessed with T2 relaxation time measurements – 3T MRI data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Presented at: Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting; Nov. 25-30, 2012; Chicago.