• Omer Kazci, Hasan Yigit, and Pinar Kosar.
• Ardahan State Hospital, İnönü mah., Sugöze, 75000 Ardahan Merkez, Ardahan, Turkey. Tel +90 5066259155, fax +90 3125953898. omerkazci1990@gmail.com.
• Med Probl Perform Art. 2020 Dec 1; 35 (4): 221-226.

AimsProfessional ballet dancers are at risk for degenerative knee cartilage changes. In the current study, we evaluated the knee cartilage with T2 mapping methods in professional ballet dancers and healthy controls and investigated possible differences of T2 values between these groups.MethodsWe included healthy dancers with 5-20 years of professional ballet dancing experience and sex-matched healthy controls without knee pathology. T2 values of the knee cartilage were measured from axial, coronal, and sagittal images. The values were measured by free hand region of interest (ROI).ResultsThe study population consisted of 44 people (22 dancers, 22 controls), with mean age of 25.57 ± 5.53 yrs. We found no significant relationship between sex and T2 values. We detected a significant positive correlation between age and T2 values for patellofemoral joint cartilage. T2 values of patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints of dancers were significantly higher. Mean T2 values of patellofemoral joint were around 32 in all planes in dancers and around 12 in controls (p<0.05). Mean tibiofemoral joint values in dancers were around 39 and around 32 in controls (p<0.05).ConclusionsT2 values of knee cartilage were higher in professional ballet dancers. T2 mapping method can reveal knee cartilage changes successfully in professional ballet dancers. All anatomical planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal) can be used in order to obtain T2 values.

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