Self-reported injury in ultra-endurance participants with a focus on knee injuries: An exploratory cross-sectional comparative study of running, cycling, and triathlon.

Objectives: To investigate the frequency and location of reported injuries among ultra-endurance participants competing in different sports.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Method: Ultra-endurance runners, cyclists and triathletes were recruited via a social media advertisement to participate in a web-based questionnaire.

An exploratory study to investigate the association between age, physical activity, femoral trochlear cartilage thickness and biomarkers of tissue metabolism in adult males.

Purpose: To investigate the association between age, physical activity, femoral trochlear cartilage thickness and biomarkers of tissue metabolism in a cross-sectional sample of adult males. This study utilizes several emerging biomarkers that have been associated with early joint degenerative changes; serum COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein), HA (hyaluronan) and lubricin.

Methods: Eighty-one males (age: mean (range): 43(18-70) years; body mass index: 25.

The time course and mechanisms of change in biomarkers of joint metabolism in response to acute exercise and chronic training in physiologic and pathological conditions.

Purpose: The benefits of exercise across the lifespan and for a wide spectrum of health and diseases are well known. However, there remains less clarity as to the effects of both acute and chronic exercise on joint health. Serum biomarkers of joint metabolism are sensitive to change and have the potential to differentiate between normal and adverse adaptations to acute and chronic load.

The Reliability of Suprapatellar Transverse Sonographic Assessment of Femoral Trochlear Cartilage Thickness in Healthy Adults.

Objectives: To determine the intrasession reliability of femoral cartilage thickness measurements using sonography and extend the pool of normative data for cartilage thickness measurements assessed by sonography.

Methods: A total of 77 healthy participants (55 men, 22 women), with an average age of 43 ± 18 (mean ± standard deviation) years, volunteered. Resting suprapatellar sonography was used to image trochlear cartilage thickness on 2 separate occasions a maximum of 7 days apart.

The effect of aerobic walking and lower body resistance exercise on serum COMP and hyaluronan, in both males and females.

Purpose: To compare the serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and hyaluronan (HA) response to walking (high-repetition loading) and resistance training exercise (low-repetition loading) in males and females.

Methods: 15 males (age: 28 ± 6 years; BMI: 24 ± 2; mean ± SD) and 15 females (age: 26 ± 4 years; BMI: 23 ± 2) completed both a 40-min walk at 80% of maximum heart rate and a 40-min lower body resistance training protocol, separated by a minimum of 48 h. Serum COMP and HA were determined at rest, immediately post, and 30-min post exercise.

The effect of vigorous running and cycling on serum COMP, lubricin, and femoral cartilage thickness: a pilot study.

Purpose: Our aim was to investigate lubricin, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and femoral cartilage deformation in response to different biomechanical loading of the knee joint (running vs cycling).

Methods: Serum lubricin and COMP concentrations (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and femoral cartilage thickness (suprapatellar transverse ultrasonography) were determined in 11 male runners (age: 40 ± 6 years; weight: 76 ± 8 kg) and 11 male cyclists (35 ± 12 years; 75 ± 5 kg) at baseline, immediately after, and 30 min after vigorous exercise (time trial: 10-km run or 25-km cycle).

Results: At baseline, lubricin (runners: 104.