ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024
Influence of leg axis alignment on MRI T2* mapping of the knee in young professional soccer players.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.
- Two-year follow-up of varus progression in young professional football players.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Mechanical Signatures of Tibiofemoral Cartilage Degeneration Identified by Unconfined Compression Testing: Implications for Early Osteoarthritis Risk in Athletes.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Analysis of Genu Varum in Young Male Professional Soccer Players.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2025Article
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11 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundInvestigation of the association between leg axis alignment and biochemical MRI in young professional soccer players in order to identify a potential influence of the leg axis on cartilage regions at risk.
methodsSixteen professional soccer players (21 ± 3 years) underwent static and dynamic leg axis analysis via radiation free DIERS formetric 4 D as well as 3-T MRI examination of both knees. Quantitative T2* mapping of the knee cartilage was performed and T2* values were evaluated as 144 regions of interest. Subgroup analysis was performed in players with severe varus alignment (> 6°).
resultsAnalysis of the leg axis geometry revealed a mean static alignment of 6.6° ± 2.5 varus and a mean dynamic alignment of 5.1° ± 2.6 varus. Quantitative T2* mapping showed significantly increased T2* values in the superficial cartilage layer compared to the deeper region (p < 0.001) as well as a significant increase in relaxation times in the femoral cartilage from anterior to intermediate to posterior (p < 0.001). Combination of both methods revealed a significant correlation for the degree of varus alignment and the femoral, posterior, deep region of the medial knee compartment (r = 0.4; p = 0.03). If severe varus alignment was present this region showed a significant increase in relaxation time compared to players with a less pronounced leg axis deviation (p = 0.003).
conclusionThis study demonstrates that varus alignment in young soccer players is associated with elevated T2* relaxation times in the deep cartilage layer of the medial, posterior, femoral compartment and might therefore be a contributing factor in the early pathogenesis of manifest cartilage lesions. Therefore, these findings should be considered in the development of preventive training programs.
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