Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls
Abstract Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates continue to rise among youth involved in recreational and competitive athletics, requiring a better understanding of how the knee structurally and mechanically responds to activity during musculoskeletal growth. Little is understood a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40634-021-00439-7 |
| _version_ | 1797321477929828352 |
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| author | Danielle N. Ochocki Benjamin E. Loflin Taeyong Ahn Kaitlyn A. Colglazier Andrew R. Young Anna A. Snider Elizabeth P. Bueckers Edward M. Wojtys Stephen H. Schlecht |
| author_facet | Danielle N. Ochocki Benjamin E. Loflin Taeyong Ahn Kaitlyn A. Colglazier Andrew R. Young Anna A. Snider Elizabeth P. Bueckers Edward M. Wojtys Stephen H. Schlecht |
| author_sort | Danielle N. Ochocki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates continue to rise among youth involved in recreational and competitive athletics, requiring a better understanding of how the knee structurally and mechanically responds to activity during musculoskeletal growth. Little is understood about how anatomical risk factors for ACL injury (e.g., small ACL size, narrow intercondylar notch, and steep posterior tibial slope) develop and respond to increased physical activity throughout growth. We hypothesized that the ACL‐complex of mice engaged in moderate to strenuous physical activity (i.e., endurance running) throughout late adolescence and young adulthood would positively functionally adapt to repetitive load perturbations. Methods Female C57BL6/J mice (8 weeks of age) were either provided free access to a standard cage wheel with added resistance (n = 18) or normal cage activity (n = 18), for a duration of 4 weeks. Daily distance ran, weekly body and food weights, and pre‐ and post‐study body composition measures were recorded. At study completion, muscle weights, three‐dimensional knee morphology, ACL cross‐sectional area, and ACL mechanical properties of runners and nonrunners were quantified. Statistical comparisons between runners and nonrunners were assessed using a two‐way analysis of variance and a Tukey multiple comparisons test, with body weight included as a covariate. Results Runners had larger quadriceps (p = 0.02) and gastrocnemius (p = 0.05) muscles, but smaller hamstring (p = 0.05) muscles, compared to nonrunners. Though there was no significant difference in ACL size (p = 0.24), it was 13% stronger in runners (p = 0.03). Additionally, both the posterior medial and lateral tibial slopes were 1.2 to 2.2 degrees flatter than those of nonrunners (p < 0.01). Conclusions Positive functional adaptations of the knee joint to moderate to strenuous exercise in inbred mice offers hope that that some anatomical risk factors for ACL injury may be reduced through habitual physical activity. However, confirmation that a similar response to loading occurs in humans is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:59:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1bb295ac0b1643b9ad1536dd1c13b45c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-1153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:59:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics |
| spelling | doaj.art-1bb295ac0b1643b9ad1536dd1c13b45c2024-02-07T14:50:36ZengWileyJournal of Experimental Orthopaedics2197-11532022-01-0191n/an/a10.1186/s40634-021-00439-7Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controlsDanielle N. Ochocki0Benjamin E. Loflin1Taeyong Ahn2Kaitlyn A. Colglazier3Andrew R. Young4Anna A. Snider5Elizabeth P. Bueckers6Edward M. Wojtys7Stephen H. Schlecht8Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSADepartment of Biomedical EngineeringIndiana University Purdue University‐IndianapolisIndianapolisINUSADepartment of General SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSADepartment of Orthopaedic SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineVanNuys Medical Science Building, Room 0028, 635 Barnhill Drive46202IndianapolisINUSAAbstract Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates continue to rise among youth involved in recreational and competitive athletics, requiring a better understanding of how the knee structurally and mechanically responds to activity during musculoskeletal growth. Little is understood about how anatomical risk factors for ACL injury (e.g., small ACL size, narrow intercondylar notch, and steep posterior tibial slope) develop and respond to increased physical activity throughout growth. We hypothesized that the ACL‐complex of mice engaged in moderate to strenuous physical activity (i.e., endurance running) throughout late adolescence and young adulthood would positively functionally adapt to repetitive load perturbations. Methods Female C57BL6/J mice (8 weeks of age) were either provided free access to a standard cage wheel with added resistance (n = 18) or normal cage activity (n = 18), for a duration of 4 weeks. Daily distance ran, weekly body and food weights, and pre‐ and post‐study body composition measures were recorded. At study completion, muscle weights, three‐dimensional knee morphology, ACL cross‐sectional area, and ACL mechanical properties of runners and nonrunners were quantified. Statistical comparisons between runners and nonrunners were assessed using a two‐way analysis of variance and a Tukey multiple comparisons test, with body weight included as a covariate. Results Runners had larger quadriceps (p = 0.02) and gastrocnemius (p = 0.05) muscles, but smaller hamstring (p = 0.05) muscles, compared to nonrunners. Though there was no significant difference in ACL size (p = 0.24), it was 13% stronger in runners (p = 0.03). Additionally, both the posterior medial and lateral tibial slopes were 1.2 to 2.2 degrees flatter than those of nonrunners (p < 0.01). Conclusions Positive functional adaptations of the knee joint to moderate to strenuous exercise in inbred mice offers hope that that some anatomical risk factors for ACL injury may be reduced through habitual physical activity. However, confirmation that a similar response to loading occurs in humans is needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40634-021-00439-7 |
| spellingShingle | Danielle N. Ochocki Benjamin E. Loflin Taeyong Ahn Kaitlyn A. Colglazier Andrew R. Young Anna A. Snider Elizabeth P. Bueckers Edward M. Wojtys Stephen H. Schlecht Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics |
| title | Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| title_full | Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| title_fullStr | Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| title_short | Endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| title_sort | endurance running during late murine adolescence results in a stronger anterior cruciate ligament and flatter posterior tibial slopes compared to controls |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40634-021-00439-7 |
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