There is continuing controversy whether long-distance running results in irreversible articular cartilage damage. New quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques used at 3.0 T have been developed including T1rho (T1?) and T2 relaxation time measurements that detect early cartilage proteoglycan and collagen breakdown.
High-field magnetic resonance imaging assessment of articular cartilage before and after marathon running: does long-distance running lead to cartilage damage?
Anthony C. Luke, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Orthopaedics, 500 Parnassus Ave, MU-320W, San Francisco, CA 94143-0728, USA. lukea@orthosurg.ucsf.edu
