Radiology, Vol 179, 635-637, Copyright © 1991 by Radiological Society of North America
Knees of trained long-distance runners: MR imaging before and after competition
FG Shellock and JH Mink
Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine.
A previous report indicated that recreational runners had increased
meniscal signal intensity and visible joint effusions on magnetic resonance
(MR) images after jogging. Therefore, the knees of trained long-distance
runners were evaluated by means of MR imaging before and after competition
to determine the presence of any structural alterations, particularly
changes in intrameniscal signal intensity and/or joint effusions.
T1-weighted coronal, proton-density and T2- weighted sagittal, and short T1
inversion recovery sagittal images were obtained in five trained runners 24
hours before and within 24 hours after completion of a long-distance race
(distance range, 17-50 miles). Pre- and postrace images were filmed and
windowed with standardized techniques. All ligaments were normal before and
after the race. No alteration in meniscal signal intensity was noted for
any menisci, and there was no increase in joint fluid after running. These
data indicate that the knees of trained long-distance runners do not
demonstrate changes similar to those found in recreational runners,
suggesting that these athletes may have adapted to the stresses of their
activity.
