Fat Mass Is Associated with Foot Pain in Men: The Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

Objective: Foot pain is a common complaint in adults. Evidence suggests that body composition is involved in the development of foot pain. However, whether this is the case in men remains unclear because previous studies mainly examined women.

Associations of surgical and nonsurgical weight loss with knee musculature: a cohort study of obese adults.

Background: Marked weight loss reduces lean body mass and quadriceps thickness. It is unclear whether muscle loss varies according to the method of weight loss.

Objective: This study compared the association of surgical versus nonsurgical weight loss with change in vastus medialis (VM) properties in obese adults.

Signal intensity alteration in the infrapatellar fat pad at baseline for the prediction of knee symptoms and structure in older adults: a cohort study.

Objective: To describe the associations between infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) signal intensity alteration at baseline and knee symptoms and structural changes in older adults.

Methods: A total of 874 subjects (mean 62.1 years, 50.

Longitudinal associations between adiposity and change in knee pain: Tasmanian older adult cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal relationship between adiposity and change in knee pain.

Methods: A total of 1099 participants aged 50-79 were randomly selected from the local community in Southern Tasmania, of which 767 were followed up on average 5.1 years later.

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Knee Joint Effusion Synovitis and Knee Pain in Older Adults.

Objective: To describe the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between knee regional effusion synovitis and knee pain in older adults.

Methods: Data from a population-based random sample (n = 880, mean age 62 yrs, 50% women) were used. Baseline knee joint effusion synovitis was graded (0-3) using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the suprapatellar pouch, central portion, posterior femoral recess, and subpopliteal recess.

A large infrapatellar fat pad protects against knee pain and lateral tibial cartilage volume loss.

Introduction: The infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) is commonly resected during knee joint arthroplasty, but the ramifications of doing so are unclear. This longitudinal study determined whether the size of the IPFP (maximum cross-sectional area (CSA)) was associated with knee cartilage loss and the development of knee pain in adults without knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A total of 297 adults without American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria for a diagnosis of knee OA were recruited.

Correlation Between Changes in Global Knee Structures Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Radiographic Osteoarthritis Changes Over Ten Years in a Midlife Cohort.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the correlation between changes in structural abnormalities assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and change in radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) over 10 years in a midlife cohort.

Methods: A total of 211 participants (mean age 45 years [range 26-61 years], 57% female) were studied at baseline, 2 years, and 10 years. Approximately one-half were adult offspring of subjects who had undergone knee replacement for OA and the remainders were randomly selected controls.

Cartilage morphology at 2-3 years following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without concomitant meniscal pathology.

Purpose: To examine differences in cartilage morphology between young adults 2-3 years post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with or without meniscal pathology, and control participants.

Methods: Knee MRI was performed on 130 participants aged 18-40 years (62 with isolated ACLR, 38 with combined ACLR and meniscal pathology, and 30 healthy controls). Cartilage defects, cartilage volume and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were assessed from MRI using validated methods.

Association of physical activity and physical performance with tibial cartilage volume and bone area in young adults.

Introduction: Physical activity has been recommended to patients with knee osteoarthritis for improving their symptoms. However, it is still controversial if physical activity has effects on joint structures including cartilage volume. The aim of this study was to describe the associations between physical activity and performance measured 5 years prior and tibial cartilage volume and bone area in young adults.

A Dose-response relationship between severity of disc degeneration and intervertebral disc height in the lumbosacral spine.

Introduction: Varied definitions of disc pathology exist in the literature. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) classification systems incorporate several qualitative features including disc appearance, the distinction between the nucleus and the annulus, signal intensity and intervertebral disc height. The lack of a continuous measure has made it difficult to sensitively examine degenerative disc disease.

Mechanisms underpinning the peak knee flexion moment increase over 2-years following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is common in people who have undergone partial meniscectomy, and a higher external knee flexion moment during gait may be a potential contributor. Although the peak external knee flexion moment has been shown to increase from 3 months to 2 years following partial meniscectomy, mechanisms underpinning the increase in the peak knee flexion moment are unknown.

Methods: Sixty-six participants with partial meniscectomy completed three-dimensional gait (normal and fast pace) and quadriceps strength assessment at baseline (3 months following partial meniscectomy) and again 2 years later.

Bone marrow lesions can be subtyped into groups with different clinical outcomes using two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences.

Introduction: Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are features detected on MRI that are important in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. Since BMLs reflect heterogeneous pathologies this prospective cohort study examined whether BMLs detected using different MRI sequences are associated with distinct structural and clinical endpoints.

Methods: A total of 297 community-based adults without knee pain were examined to identify BMLs visualised using three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo fat-suppressed (T1-weighted sequences) fat-suppressed and fat-saturated FSE T2-weighted MRI sequences (T2-weighted sequences) at baseline.

Association of Body Composition and Hormonal and Inflammatory Factors With Tibial Cartilage Volume and Sex Difference in Cartilage Volume in Young Adults.

Objective: To describe the associations between body composition and hormonal and inflammatory factors measured 5 years prior and tibial cartilage volume in young adults, and to explore if these factors contribute to the sex difference in tibial cartilage volume.

Methods: Subjects broadly representative of the young adult Australian population (n = 328, ages 31-41 years, 47.3% women) were selected.

Age Related Macular Degeneration and Total Hip Replacement Due to Osteoarthritis or Fracture: Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study.

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of total hip replacement, accounting for more than 80% of all total hip replacements. Emerging evidence suggests that osteoarthritis has a chronic inflammatory component to its pathogenesis similar to age-related macular degeneration. We evaluated the association between age-related macular degeneration and total hip replacement as proxy for severe osteoarthritis or fractured neck of femur in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study.

Wolff's law in action: a mechanism for early knee osteoarthritis.

There is growing interest in the role of bone in knee osteoarthritis. Bone is a dynamic organ, tightly regulated by a multitude of homeostatic controls, including genetic and environmental factors. One such key environmental regulator of periarticular bone is mechanical stimulation, which, according to Wolff's law, is a key determinant of bone properties.

Increased duration of co-contraction of medial knee muscles is associated with greater progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Background: As knee osteoarthritis (OA) cannot be cured, treatments that slow structural disease progression are a priority. Knee muscle activation has a potential role in OA pathogenesis. Although enhanced knee muscle co-contraction augments joint stability; this may speed structural disease progression by increased joint load.

Factors associated with magnetic resonance imaging defined patellar tendinopathy in community-based middle-aged women: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Patellar tendinopathy identified by imaging modalities has been reported in asymptomatic athletes and associated with tendon-related symptoms. However there is little data in community-based populations. The aim of this cohort study was to examine the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) defined patellar tendinopathy, the factors associated with this condition, and whether it was associated with knee pain in community-based middle-aged women.

Association between popliteal artery wall thickness and knee cartilage volume loss in community-based middle-aged women without clinical knee disease.

Objective: Increasing evidence suggests a role of vascular pathology in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. This study examined the association between popliteal artery wall thickness, a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease, and knee cartilage volume loss in an asymptomatic cohort of women.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study of 170 women with no significant knee pain, injury, or history of clinical knee disease.

Weight change following knee and hip joint arthroplasty-a six-month prospective study of adults with osteoarthritis.

Background: Inconsistent findings of weight change following total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty may largely be attributable to heterogeneous cohorts and varied definitions of weight loss. This study examined weight change following TKA and THA for osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: 64 participants with hip or knee OA were recruited from orthopaedic joint arthroplasty waiting lists at a single major Australian public hospital between March and October 2011.

Aspirin is associated with reduced cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis: Data from a cohort study.

Objectives: Aspirin, widely used in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, in low dose, has anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective effects: both of these processes contribute to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. We examined whether use of low dose aspirin affects change in knee cartilage volume in osteoarthritis.

Methods: Participants from the Melbourne osteoarthritis cohort were classified as users and non-users of aspirin, according to baseline use (≤300 mg/day).

The effects of a calcium-rich pre-exercise meal on biomarkers of calcium homeostasis in competitive female cyclists: a randomised crossover trial.

Unlabelled: Cycling is recognised as a sport in which there is a high incidence of poor bone health. Sweat calcium losses may contribute to this.

Purpose: To examine whether a calcium-rich pre-exercise meal attenuates exercise-induced perturbations of bone calcium homeostasis caused by maintenance of sweat calcium losses.

Body composition is associated with multisite lower body musculoskeletal pain in a community-based study.

Unlabelled: Population-based studies suggest that pain in the lower body is common and that pain at multiple sites is more prevalent than single-site pain. Obesity is a risk factor for multisite musculoskeletal pain, but there are limited data on the role of body composition. Therefore, we sought to determine whether body composition is associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain involving the low back, knee, and foot.

Physical inactivity is associated with narrower lumbar intervertebral discs, high fat content of paraspinal muscles and low back pain and disability.

Introduction: Although physical inactivity has been associated with numerous chronic musculoskeletal complaints, few studies have examined its associations with spinal structures. Moreover, previously reported associations between physical activity and low back pain are conflicting. This study examined the associations between physical inactivity and intervertebral disc height, paraspinal fat content and low back pain and disability.