Principal Investigator: Thomas P. Andriacchi, PhD Project Category: Arthritis - 2004 Description: This study is to identify specific characteristics of the motion and loading at the knee (during locomotion) that influence progression of osteoarthritis at the knee. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee occurs in a substantial portion of the population over the age of fifty. The substantial variation in the rate of initiation and progression of the disease can be influenced by normal variation in the in vivo function of the knee during locomotion. Yet the specific functional measures (kinematic and load) that produce adaptive vs. degenerative to the articular cartilage at the knee during ambulation are not well understood. The long-term goal of this study is to identify specific characteristics of the motion and loading at the knee (during locomotion) that influence progression of OA at the knee. As an initial step toward this goal, this project will test the overall hypothesis that regional variations in knee cartilage thickness (in an asymptomatic population with no history of soft tissue injury at the knee) are related to specific kinematic and loading characteristic at the knee during walking. The following specific aims will be addressed:
The methods to test the hypothesizes will combine state of the art methods for the analysis of human movement and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to quantify femoral and tibial cartilage thickness. A population of asymptomatic subjects (stratified by ages between 20 and 70 years) will be tested studied using a cross-sectional study design. Expected Outcome: This study will provide a better understanding of that regional variations in knee cartilage thickness (in an asymptomatic population with no history of soft tissue injury at the knee) as related to specific kinematic and loading characteristic at the knee during walking. Funding Source: National Institutes of Health Funding Status: Active |
