Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is characterized by the gradual degradation of articular cartilage in weight-bearing joints, notably the knees and hips. However, the primary morphological and anatomical determinants of the disease onset and progression remain uncle...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Eloy del Río |
| author_facet | Eloy del Río |
| author_sort | Eloy del Río |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is characterized by the gradual degradation of articular cartilage in weight-bearing joints, notably the knees and hips. However, the primary morphological and anatomical determinants of the disease onset and progression remain unclear. This narrative overview examines how variations in cartilage thickness—traditionally viewed as a biomechanical protective feature—can paradoxically compromise metabolic homeostasis during prolonged sedentary behavior. Intriguingly, compelling evidence suggests that despite its superior load-bearing capacity, thicker cartilage faces greater challenges in solute transport, a limitation further exacerbated by the formation of diffusion-resistant boundary layers at the cartilage–fluid interface during immobilization. This phenomenon restricts nutrient influx and impedes waste clearance, leading to the accumulation of catabolic byproducts in deep cartilage zones and accelerated extracellular matrix breakdown, potentially influencing OA pathogenesis. By critically synthesizing current debates on mechanical loading with emerging data on metabolic dysregulation, particularly nutrient diffusion limitations, this analysis underscores the urgent need for targeted investigation of synovial–cartilage interface dynamics and chondrocyte metabolism under low-motion conditions. This study further advocates for strategic research focusing on often-overlooked, silent metabolic imbalances among sedentary populations and recommends early-intervention strategies, such as periodic joint mobilization, ergonomic adaptations, and public-health campaigns, to reduce prolonged sitting, preserve joint function, and guide more effective prevention and management approaches for non-traumatic OA in contemporary contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20bc676d5d154385a07c490a7d373a91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-20bc676d5d154385a07c490a7d373a912025-08-20T03:36:35ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137165010.3390/biomedicines13071650Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary LifestylesEloy del Río0Independent Researcher, 11520 Cádiz, SpainOsteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is characterized by the gradual degradation of articular cartilage in weight-bearing joints, notably the knees and hips. However, the primary morphological and anatomical determinants of the disease onset and progression remain unclear. This narrative overview examines how variations in cartilage thickness—traditionally viewed as a biomechanical protective feature—can paradoxically compromise metabolic homeostasis during prolonged sedentary behavior. Intriguingly, compelling evidence suggests that despite its superior load-bearing capacity, thicker cartilage faces greater challenges in solute transport, a limitation further exacerbated by the formation of diffusion-resistant boundary layers at the cartilage–fluid interface during immobilization. This phenomenon restricts nutrient influx and impedes waste clearance, leading to the accumulation of catabolic byproducts in deep cartilage zones and accelerated extracellular matrix breakdown, potentially influencing OA pathogenesis. By critically synthesizing current debates on mechanical loading with emerging data on metabolic dysregulation, particularly nutrient diffusion limitations, this analysis underscores the urgent need for targeted investigation of synovial–cartilage interface dynamics and chondrocyte metabolism under low-motion conditions. This study further advocates for strategic research focusing on often-overlooked, silent metabolic imbalances among sedentary populations and recommends early-intervention strategies, such as periodic joint mobilization, ergonomic adaptations, and public-health campaigns, to reduce prolonged sitting, preserve joint function, and guide more effective prevention and management approaches for non-traumatic OA in contemporary contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1650osteoarthritis phenotypes/endotypescartilage thicknesslimiting diffusion depthzone-dependent cartilage nutritionnutrient influx/waste outfluxchondrocyte viability |
| spellingShingle | Eloy del Río Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles Biomedicines osteoarthritis phenotypes/endotypes cartilage thickness limiting diffusion depth zone-dependent cartilage nutrition nutrient influx/waste outflux chondrocyte viability |
| title | Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles |
| title_full | Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles |
| title_fullStr | Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles |
| title_short | Thick or Thin? Implications of Cartilage Architecture for Osteoarthritis Risk in Sedentary Lifestyles |
| title_sort | thick or thin implications of cartilage architecture for osteoarthritis risk in sedentary lifestyles |
| topic | osteoarthritis phenotypes/endotypes cartilage thickness limiting diffusion depth zone-dependent cartilage nutrition nutrient influx/waste outflux chondrocyte viability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1650 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eloydelrio thickorthinimplicationsofcartilagearchitectureforosteoarthritisriskinsedentarylifestyles |