Degradation of articular cartilage related to osteoarthritis is associated with changes in cartilage T2 relaxation times that may not be uniform across the cartilage surface. Analysis of changes in T2 times longitudinally or in response to mechanical loading can assist in detection of regions of cartilage damage. Here we examine the ability of cluster analysis to reflect transient changes in cartilage T2 times in response to acute loading. Osteoarthritic subjects who performed a squat exercise had a greater percent of the cartilage area with negative changes in T2 times compared to healthy and osteoarthritic subjects who did not exercise.
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