A mobile MRI field study of the biochemical cartilage reaction of the knee joint during a 4,486 km transcontinental multistage ultra-marathon using T2* mapping.

ABSTRACT: Nearly nothing is known about the consequences of ultra-long-distance running on knee cartilage. In this mobile MRI field study, we analysed the biochemical effects of a 4,486 km transcontinental multistage ultra-marathon on femorotibial joint (FTJ) cartilage. Serial MRI data were acquired from 22 subjects (20 male, 18 finisher) using a 1.5 T MR scanner mounted on a 38-ton trailer, travelling with the participants of the TransEurope FootRace (TEFR) day by day over 64 stages. The statistical analyses focused on intrachondral T2* behaviour during the course of the TEFR as the main outcome variable of interest. T2* mapping (sagittal FLASH T2* weighted gradient echo) is a validated and highly accurate method for quantitative compositional cartilage analysis of specific weightbearing areas of t

SUBMITTER: Schutz U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7235258 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature