Effect of muscle contractions on cartilage: morphological and functional magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the knee after spinal cord injury

This study investigates how the absence of muscle contractions affects knee cartilage in individuals with spinal cord injuries, even when they have some joint movement. Patients with complete spinal cord injuries underwent knee MRIs at the beginning of the study and again after six months. They also received rehabilitation with passive motion exercises. The study found that the absence of muscle contractions may harm normal knee cartilage, even with normal joint motion. More research with more patients is needed.

• 1
  Absence of muscle contractions seems deleterious to normal human knee cartilage.
• 2
  Increase in T2 values observed on the six-month MRI, especially in the patellofemoral joint.
• 3
  Patients had a normal passive range of motion, but presented articular cartilage damage.