Urbanization and Knee Cartilage Growth Among Children and Adolescents in Western Kenya.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Previous studies have demonstrated that low physical activity levels during youth are associated with the development of thin knee cartilage, which may increase susceptibility to osteoarthritis later in life. Here, we propose and test the hypothesis that reductions in physical activity impair knee cartilage growth among people in developing countries experiencing urbanization and increased market integration.

Methods

Ultrasonography was used to measure knee cartilage thickness in 168 children and adolescents (aged 8-17 years) from two groups in western Kenya: a rural, physically active group from a small-scale farming community and an urban, less physically active group from the nearby city of Eldoret. We used general linear models to assess the relative effects of

SUBMITTER: Holowka NB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8593811 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature