Physical activity in relation to knee cartilage T2 progression measured with 3 T MRI over a period of 4 years: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to analyze the longitudinal association between physical activity levels and early degenerative cartilage changes in the knee, measured using T2 relaxation times over a period of 4 years in individuals without clinical or radiographic evidence of OA. DESIGN Cartilage T2 was measured at baseline and after 2 and 4 years in 205 subjects aged 45-60 years from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) incidence and normal cohorts with no knee pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score of zero), and a Kellgren Lawrence (KL) score of <2 at baseline. Physical activity was scored using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire, which was obtained yearly over 4 years. The relationship between physical activity and T2 was studied using a mixed model linear regression, including random effects, and adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS T2 values for all PASE tertiles progressed over the 4-year period. T2 progression was increased in the highest tertile of physical activity compared to the mid-tertile at the medial tibia (MT) (P = 0.041), patella (Pat) (P = 0.019), and average T2 of all knee compartments combined (P = 0.033). Subjects with the lowest 15% PASE scores showed significantly higher T2 progression compared to the mid-level physical activity group at the lateral femur (LF) (P = 0.025), lateral tibia (LT) (P = 0.043), medial femur (MF) (P = 0.044), tibiofemoral compartment (P = 0.017), patellofemoral compartment (P = 0.016), lateral compartments (P = 0.003), and average of all compartments (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION High and very low PASE scores were associated with greater progression of cartilage T2 measurements in asymptomatic, middle-aged individuals, suggesting accelerated cartilage matrix biochemical degeneration over time.