title: Knee osteoarthritis: Clinical connections to articular cartilage structure and function.
abstract: Articular cartilage is a unique biphasic material that supports a lifetime of compressive and shear forces across joints. When articular cartilage deteriorates, whether due to injury, wear and tear or normal aging, osteoarthritis and resultant pain can ensue. Understanding the basic science of the structure and biomechanics of articular cartilage can help clinicians guide their patients to appropriate activity and loading choices. The purpose of this article is to examine how articular cartilage structure and mechanics, may interact with risk factors to contribute to OA and how this interaction provides guidelines for intervention choices This paper will review the microstructure of articular cartilage, its mechanical properties and link this information to clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Research Park Clinic, 621 Science Drive, Madison, WI 53711, USA; Orthopaedic and Sports Science, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 122 East 1700 South, Bldg. C, Provo, UT 84606, USA. Electronic address: ltbrody@rmuohp.edu.
authors.forename: Lori Thein
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Brody
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Articular cartilage; Exercise therapy; Rehabilitation