The influence of high-intensity interval running bouts on distal anterior femoral cartilage in competitive distance and middle-distance runners.

Competitive runners compared with recreational runners have increased odds of osteoarthritis and running-related injury, potentially from different running types. We compared distal anterior femoral cartilage deformation in competitive runners following a continuous and high-intensity interval run (10 × 400 m, 300 m jog) and evaluated the association between running kinetics and cartilage deformation. Twenty-four competitive runners (11 females and 13 males), between 18 and 35 years old underwent femoral cartilage ultrasound imaging before and after both running conditions in a counterbalanced order 2-7 days apart.