Munukka (2016) Efficacy of progressive aquatic resistance training for tibiofemoral cartilage in postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition affecting the knee joints, leading to pain and reduced physical function. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of aquatic resistance training on the tibiofemoral cartilage’s biochemical composition in postmenopausal women with mild knee OA.

Materials and Methods

The study involved 87 postmenopausal women aged 60-68 years with mild knee OA. Participants were randomized into an intervention group, which underwent 48 sessions of supervised aquatic resistance training over 16 weeks, and a control group that maintained their usual physical activity levels. The primary outcomes were assessed using MRI techniques, T2 mapping, and dGEMRIC index, to estimate the biochemical composition of the knee cartilage.

Results

Post-intervention analysis showed a significant decrease in T2 values and dGEMRIC index in the medial femoral cartilage’s posterior region within the intervention group compared to controls. This indicates a potential improvement in the collagen matrix’s integrity and a decrease in water content in the cartilage. Additionally, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that aquatic resistance training could positively affect the knee cartilage’s biochemical properties in postmenopausal women with mild OA. The training was well-tolerated and improved the participants’ cardiorespiratory fitness without worsening knee symptoms. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these changes on knee OA progression.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Aquatic Exercise, Knee Cartilage, Postmenopausal Women, MRI, dGEMRIC Index