ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To characterize effects of age and physical activity level on cartilage thickness and T2 response immediately after running. DESIGN: Institutional review board approval was obtained and all subjects provided informed consent prior to study participation. Cartilage thickness and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 values of 22 marathon runners and 15 sedentary controls were compared before and after 30 min of running. Runner and control groups were stratified by age