Effect of long-distance running on the ankle and knee joints

Long-distance running such as marathons and Ironman competitions have become popular fitness activities, even for amateurs. Despite its obvious health benefits, however, repetitive and excessive loading imposed on the knee and ankle joints resulting from long-distance running may cause cartilage or ligament damage. This leads to onset of osteoarthritis, increased subsequent health care costs due to knee therapy, implants or lost work days. Thus, an appreciation of biomechanics for endurance running in the ankle and knee joint is of great value for both injury prevention and treatment.

This investigation can be accomplished using 3D anatomically-based computational models, representing personalised joint geometry, combined with modern image techniques including MR, CT and functional diffusion imaging such as PET-CT. A better understanding of the ankle and knee joint can provide possible aetiology of joint injury, explanation of pathology and inform better diagnostic techniques. Such information can be also used to develop novel rehabilitation strategies for people after surgical reconstruction of the joints or construct robotic joints replacement for medical purposes. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of long-distance running on the ankle and knee complex by using a subject-specific computational model combined with MRI. Through this collaborative research between medical sciences and bioengineering, we expect that our work will impact a number of research communities in Medicine and Engineering.

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