Regular running is related to the knee joint cartilage structure in healthy adults

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular running distance and biomechanics are related to medial central femur cartilage (MCFC) structure.

Methods The cross-sectional study sample consisted of 1164 runners and nonrunners aged 18–65 yr. Participants completed questionnaires on physical activity and their running history. We performed quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of knee cartilage—T2 relaxation time (T2) mapping (high T2 indicates cartilage degeneration)—and a running biomechanical analysis using a three-dimensional motion capture system. A 14-d monitoring of the physical activity was conducted.

Results Those aged 35–49 yr were at 84% higher odds of having MCFC T2 in the highest level (85th percentile, P < 0.05) compared with youngest adults indicating that MCFC structures may be altered with aging. Being male was associated with 34% lower odds of having T2 at the highest level (P < 0.05) compared with females. Nonrunners and runners with the highest weekly running distance were more likely to have a high T2 compared with runners with running distance of 6–20 km·wk−1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the maximal knee internal adduction moment was associated with a 19% lower odds of having T2 at the highest level (P < 0.05).

Conclusions Females compared with males and a middle-aged cohort compared with the younger cohort seemed to be associated with the degeneration of MCFC structures. Runners who ran 6–20 km·wk−1 were associated with a higher quality of their MCFC compared with highly active individuals and nonrunners. Knee frontal plane biomechanics was related to MCFC structure indicating a possibility of modifying the medial knee collagen fibril network through regular running.