The relation of walking forces to structural damage in the knee: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study
Authors' conclusion
Higher peak forces when walking were associated with worsening BMLs in the lateral patellofemoral joint and with worsening cartilage damage in regions of the knee associated with higher contact forces during walking. Higher ALRs were not associated with increased odds of structural worsening (BMLs or cartilage).
Study context
- Population
- Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) participants with ground reaction force (GRF) data at baseline and MRI at baseline and 2-year follow-up
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower baseline vertical GRF during walking
- Outcome
- Worsening bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and cartilage damage in four knee joint regions
- Follow-up
- 2-year follow-up
Methodological detailslongitudinal, multicentre, logistic regression with generalized estimating equations, adjusted for relevant covariates
- Longitudinal
- Multicentre
- Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations
- Adjusted for relevant covariates
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Worsening BMLs and cartilage damage, per higher PIF / ALR
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Higher PIFworsening BMLs, lateral patellofemoral joint
1.33(1.11–1.60)
Higher PIFworsening cartilage damage, lateral patellofemoral joint
1.48(1.24–1.77)
Higher PIFworsening cartilage damage, lateral tibiofemoral joint
1.24(1.03–1.50)
Higher PIFworsening cartilage damage, medial tibiofemoral joint
1.25(1.06–1.48)
Higher ALRBML worsening, lateral tibiofemoral joint
0.60(0.41,0.87)
Per higher PIF / ALR, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
The relation of walking forces to structural damage in the knee: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 11 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →