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Abstract #0816

Individual Joint Loading Type Affects Human Cartilage Composition as Measured by Biochemical MRI

Sannamari Lepojrvi1, Marianne Haapea1, Tatu Kokkonen2, Juha Isolehto3, Ilkka Kiviranta4,5, Miika T. Nieminen1,6

1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; 2Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; 3Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyvskyl, Jyvskyl, Finland; 4Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; 5Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Jyvskyl Central Hospital, Jyvskyl, Finland; 6Department of Medical Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland


Joint loading is dependent on the individual loading type. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of individual, biomechanically determined joint loading type on biochemical properties of load-bearing articular cartilage in the knee joint, as measured by T2 relaxation time mapping and delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) in 37 asymptomatic healthy volunteers. The biochemical composition of cartilage is related to the characteristic loading type of individual subjects while the cartilage constituents may vary with physical performance. Cartilage constituents may be altered with exercise and adapt to individual loading conditions in daily-life activities or joint-loading exercise.

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