title: Quantitative T2(*) assessment of knee joint cartilage after running a marathon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of repetitive joint loading on the T2(*) assessment of knee joint cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  T2(*) mapping was performed in 10 non-professional marathon runners (mean age: 28.7±3.97 years) with no morphologically evident cartilage damage within 48h prior to and following the marathon and after a period of approximately four weeks. Bulk and zonal T2(*) values at the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartment and the patellofemoral compartment were assessed by means of region of interest analysis. Pre- and post-marathon values were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a small increase in the T2(*) after running the marathon (30.47±5.16ms versus 29.84±4.97ms, P<0.05) while the T2(*) values before the marathon and those after the period of convalescence were similar (29.84±4.97ms versus 29.81±5.17ms, P=0.855). Regional analyses revealed lower T2(*) values in the medial tibial plateau (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that repetitive joint loading has a transient influence on the T2(*) values. However, this effect is small and probably not clinically relevant. The low T2(*) values in the medial tibial plateau may be related to functional demand or early cartilage degeneration.
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopaedics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hesper
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Falk R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Miese
authors.affiliation: Center of Hip Preservation and Children's Orthopaedics, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Harish S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hosalkar
authors.affiliation: German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behringer
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopaedics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilkens
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoch
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopaedics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.affiliation: University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopaedics, Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: bbittersohl@partners.org.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012420:Running; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Cartilage; Knee; MRI; Repetitive joint loading; T2(*)