Effect of long-distance running on MR imaging assessment of the knee

This paper determines the effect of long-distance running on the MR assessment of the knees of trained athletes before and after competition. MR examinations of the knee (Tl-weighted coronal, proton-density and T2-weighted sagittal, and short inversion recovery sagittal images) were obtained in five trained runners (22--120 miles/wk) one day before and one day after completion of a distance race (17--50 miles, 3--10 hours). Pre- and postrace images were filmed and windowed by means of standardized techniques. MR studies demonstrated that all ligaments were normal, and no internal defects were observed in the articular cartilage before or after completion of the race. Furthermore, there were no minuscule signal changes or significant joint effusions after the race