Effects of 60-day-6° Head-down Bed Rest on Cartilage and Function of the Knee Joint

Peking University Third Hospital26 enrolled

Overview

Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term simulated unloading in bed on articular cartilage quality based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) and Knee joint function.

A total of 26 subjects were recruited for a 60-day period of head-down bed rest (HDBR). The bed rest position is a 6° downward tilt of the head, and all daily activities are performed in this position. We will perform functional MRI scans of the right knee joint using T2 mapping sequences to assess tissue composition and water content before and after HDBR. Functional assessments, including the Y-Balance Test and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, were performed pre-HDBR and post-HDBR.We will divide each participant's knee cartilage into 18 regions and measured T2 values according to the whole organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) partitioning method.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cartilage Degeneration Weightlessness

Interventions

60-day-6° head-down bed restBEHAVIORAL

Throughout the bed rest period, subjects carried out all activities of daily living-eating, voiding, recreation, and testing

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 25 YearsMax age: 50 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * (1) male; (2) age 25-50 years old; (3) height between 160-175 cm, weight ≥50kg, and BMI between 18.5-26 kg/m²; (4) good general health status. Exclusion Criteria: * (1) history of alcoholism; (2) smoking ≥5 cigarettes/day in the 3 months before the test; (3) drug dependence or use of medications affecting bone metabolism within 2 weeks before screening; (4) presence of metal implants, severe vertigo, or severe snoring.

Locations (1)

Peking University Third Hospital

Beijing, China

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

T2 mapping

metabolic and microstructural changes within the articular cartilage matrix components can be assessed, reflecting collagen fiber structure integrity and water content within the tissue

Time frame: three days before the HDBR started and three days after the HDBR ended

Secondary Outcomes

Y-balance test

can comprehensively evaluate an individual's joint range of motion, lower limb strength, sense of balance, and neuromuscular control, as well as the postural control and dynamic stability of lower limbs.

Time frame: three days before the HDBR started and three days after the HDBR ended

International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores

reflects the highest level of activity that an individual is able to perform.

Time frame: three days before the HDBR started and three days after the HDBR ended

Central Contacts

Jianquan Wang, M.D.

CONTACT

13253137009 wjqsportsmed@163.com

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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