Work

MRI Assessment of Talar Microstructure in Amateur Marathon Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study with Single-Subject Finite Element Analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: We compared regional talar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements between amateur marathon runners and non-runners and explored stress distribution using a single-subject finite element model. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 47 amateur marathon runners and 26 controls, with 82 and 48 ankle records, between September 2020 and December 2023. The main analysis used 46 runner and 26 control right-ankle records to avoid bilateral sampling. Log-linear T2* models adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, with HC3 standard errors and 12-test false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Bone marrow edema (BME) was assessed using recorded subchondral-bone zone grades. Sensitivity analyses examined repeated demographic profiles. Simulation used one male runner's right ankle. Results: Runners had lower medial-central (MC) talar trochlear cartilage T2* values (adjusted geometric mean ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.85; FDR-adjusted P < 0.001) and higher lateral-posterior (LP) talar subchondral-bone values (ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.63; FDR-adjusted P = 0.010). These MC findings were consistent across all 24 profile-deduplication scenarios, whereas the LP findings persisted in 14. No zone-specific BME difference was significant after FDR correction. Simulated peak cartilage stress was the highest during posterior support (13.01 MPa). Conclusion: Amateur marathon runners showed lower MC cartilage T2* values and higher LP subchondral-bone T2* values, with the MC finding more consistent across sensitivity analyses. The single-subject model showed the highest peak cartilage stress during posterior support.

Source: International Journal of General Medicine

DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s625695