ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2022
Effects of Joint Immobilization and Treadmill Exercise on Articular Cartilage After ACL Reconstruction in Rats.
Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Weight-bearing locomotion mitigates the progression of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis in male rodents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Osteoarthritis and cartilage · 2026Pooled it
- Immobilization by 21-days of bed rest causes changes in biomarkers of cartilage homeostasis in healthy individuals.Osteoarthritis and cartilage open · 2025Article
- The Effects of Corticosteroid Administration and Treadmill Exercise on Marrow Adipose Tissue and Trabecular Bone after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Rats.Acta histochemica et cytochemica · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The development of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is an important issue. However, the appropriate rehabilitation protocol to prevent cartilage degeneration due to postoperative osteoarthritis is unclear. Purpose: To examine the effects of joint immobilization and treadmill exercise on articular cartilage after ACLR. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 55 rats received unilateral knee ACL transection and reconstruction surgery using tail tendon autografts. After surgery, rats were reared without intervention, with joint immobilization, or with daily treadmill exercise (12 m/minute, 60 minutes/day, 6 days/week). Treadmill exercise was initiated at 3 or 14 days postoperatively. After 2 weeks of immobilization, the fixation device was removed from some of the immobilized rats, and the knee was allowed to move freely for 2 weeks. Untreated, age-matched rats (n = 8) were used as controls. At 2 or 4 weeks after starting the experiment, cartilage degeneration in the medial tibial plateau was histologically assessed using a modified Mankin score, cartilage thickness, chondrocyte density, and immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the anterior, middle, and posterior regions. Results: After ACLR, cartilage degeneration in the anterior region characterized by increased Mankin score, accompanied with increased COX-2 expression, was detected. Joint immobilization after ACLR facilitated cartilage degeneration, which is detected by histological changes such as reductions in cartilage thickness, chondrocyte density, and high Mankin scores. Enhanced COX-2 expression in all degenerated cartilage regions was also detected. It was found that 2 weeks of remobilization could not restore cartilage degeneration induced by 2 weeks of immobilization after ACLR. Treadmill exercise after ACLR did not affect most articular cartilage parameters, regardless of the timing of exercise. Conclusion: Our results indicated that (1) immobilization after ACLR accelerates cartilage degeneration, even when applied only for 2 weeks, and (2) mild exercise during early phases after ACLR does not facilitate cartilage degeneration. Clinical Relevance: To reduce cartilage degeneration, periods of joint immobilization after ACLR should be minimized. Mild exercise during the early phases after ACLR will not negatively affect articular cartilage.
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