Functional and Morphological Adaptations Following Four Weeks of Knee Immobilization

Abstract Immobilization of the knee as part of the treatment in bone or joint lesions leads to atrophy and consequently loss of functionality. In patients this atrophy and loss of functionality is difficult to quantify because of interfering symptoms and missing baseline data. In the present study structural and functional changes in thigh muscles were examined in eight healthy volunteers of whom one leg was immobilized in a cast for four weeks. Quadriceps cross-sectional area determined with computed tomography was 21%±7% diminished after four weeks immobilization (p