Unloaded and loaded tibial cartilage T1ρ and T2 values were evaluated regionally. Only T1ρ, significantly changed from the unloaded-to-loaded condition. Shortening of loaded T1ρ values may be attributed to matrix water loss due to PG damage and attendant loss of the cartilage FCD. Though not all regions exhibited significant changes in unloaded-to-loaded T1ρ values, previous work demonstrated that tibial cartilage tissue and fibril strains follow the pattern of changes in FCD distribution. Inter-regional T2 variation increased from unloaded-to-loaded conditions, suggesting that T2 values were affected by a decreased FCD of cartilage that allowed water to move more freely between regions.
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