Elucidating the Role of Joint Disuse in the Development of Osteoarthritis Following Return to High-Impact Loading

Abstract

The joint disuse studies completed to date have reinforced and expanded upon important information regarding the influence of joint unloading on the articular cartilage tidemark. Joint unloading activates the otherwise quiescent tidemark within articular cartilage as well as ligament entheses. With this response evident in our joint disuse model within 2 weeks of joint unloading, it will be important to track this facet of the unloading-impact loading model through the proposed variations in recovery time versus return to vigorous activities imparting joint impact loads. The results of our remaining studies may provide clinically relevant information toward establishing reasonable bounds on time to return to activities following periods of joint disuse (such as required by sickness, injury, surgery, etc.). This may be particularly informative to individuals with occupations that require higher mechanical demands on joints.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1044340

Entities

People

  • Douglas J Adams

Organizations

  • University of Connecticut

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Structures
  • Arthritis
  • Bone And Bones
  • Bone Diseases
  • Bone Fractures
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cartilage
  • Cells
  • Connective Tissue Cells
  • Impact Loads
  • Joints (Anatomy)
  • Ligaments
  • Medical Personnel
  • Recovery
  • Stem Cells
  • Tissues
  • Unloading

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.