title: Role of thigh muscle cross-sectional area and strength in progression of knee cartilage degeneration over 48 months - data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
abstract: To determine in a 48-month longitudinal study the association of thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and strength on progression of morphologic knee cartilage degeneration using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  
  Seventy Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) subjects aged 50-60 years, with no radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA) and constant muscle strength over 48 months as measured by isometric knee extension testing were included. Baseline right thigh muscle CSAs were assessed on axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, and extensor to flexor CSA ratios were calculated. Degenerative knee abnormalities at baseline and 48-months were graded on right knee 3T MRIs using a modified whole organ MRI score (WORMS). Statistical analysis employed Student's t-tests and multivariable regression models adjusted for age, body mass index and gender.
  
  
  
  Extension strength was significantly and positively correlated with baseline thigh muscle CSA (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). Greater baseline total thigh muscle CSA was significantly associated with increase of cartilage WORMS scores over 48 months in patellar (P = 0.027) and trochlear (P = 0.038) compartments, but not in other knee compartments. Among specific muscle groups, CSA of extensors (P = 0.021) and vastus medialis (VM) (P = 0.047) were associated with patellar cartilage increase in WORMS. Baseline E/F ratio had a significant positive association with patellar WORMS cartilage score increase over 48 months, P = 0.0015. There were no other significant associations between muscle CSA/ratios and increase in WORMS scores.
  
  
  
  Maintenance of proper extensor to flexor muscle balance about the knee through decreased E/F ratios may slow patellofemoral cartilage deterioration, while higher extensor and VM CSA may increase patellofemoral cartilage loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, USA. Electronic address: lhackney@montefiore.org.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: kennethtangd1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: fachettil@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Facchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: ursula.heilmeier@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heilmeier
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: gabby.joseph@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: mnevitt@psg.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nevitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: charles.mcculloch@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: richard.souza@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, USA. Electronic address: thomas.link@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Link
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D007719:Knee Joint; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053580:Muscle Strength; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee; D013848:Thigh
keywords: Cartilage; Extension strength; Knee; MR imaging; Muscle cross-sectional area; Osteoarthritis