Researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Madison are conducting a study (Evaluating the effect of foot strike biomechanics on MR imaging of the knee using a novel multi-component T2 mapping sequence) that is trying to better understand the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee in runners. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between different foot-strike patterns (forefoot strike = FFS or rearfoot strike = RRS) and the development of knee joint degeneration which can lead to osteoarthritis. We will use MR imaging to identify the presence of early degeneration within the knee in hopes of determining whether FFS running can lead to lower to incidence of arthritis.
Participation in this research is completely on a volunteer basis, but you do get a free gait analysis and it will include 2 study visits. The first will take place at the UW Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory at Research Park Clinic (621 Science Drive). This visit will include a gait analysis (free and worth several hundred dollars) and will last approximately 30 minutes. The second visit will take place at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR). For this visit you will be asked to complete 2 MRI sessions with a 30 minute treadmill run in-between the sessions. This visit will last approximately 2 hours.If you interested in participating or just want to learn more about the research, please fill out this Form or contact Peter Thurlow (pcthurlow@wisc.edu).
