Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing musculoskeletal burden,
globally. Knee OA is characterized by deterioration of articular cartilage resulting in
stiffness, pain, disability and impaired ability to perform function. Increasing
prevalence and early manifestation of OA demand exploration of risk factors and
healthy life style practices that can be adopted to delay its onset. However, negligible
efforts are noticed in the pre-clinical phase of OA to delay degenerative changes
occurring in knee by improving regular physical activity. Squatting, in addition to
being an inclusive component of ADL, is one such activity which can be selfadministered
by an individual to strengthen lower limb muscles, improve joint motion
and provide the necessary loading stimulus to maintain articular cartilage health.
Articular cartilage is known to be influenced by habitual physical loading stimulus.
Multi-factorial interaction between biomechanical variables of loading, biochemical
markers of articular cartilage degradation and structural defects in the cartilage, would
enable early identification of altered mechanical loading and change in the tissue
biochemistry which serve as risk factors for development of early knee OA.
Understanding the dose-dependent response of articular cartilage in people with
varying habitual squatting exposure will enable guiding prescription of this excellent
weight-bearing activity as a life style measure to maintain mobility, muscle strength
and cartilage health which may delay early onset OA in healthy adults.
Aims and objectives: This study aimed to explore effect of squatting on knee
articular cartilage in healthy adults. Objectives of the study were i)to quantify squat
exposure, ii)to analyse natural biomechanical adaptations in terms of knee joint
motion, loading characteristics and muscle activity in healthy adults in age group 30-
45 years, with varying squat exposure i.e. non squatters(NS)-people who do not squat,
activity of daily living squatters (ADLS)-people who adopt squatting for activities of
daily living and occupational squatters(OS)-people who squat for performing
occupational activities.Secondary objectives of the study were to explore associations
between knee articular cartilage characteristics, levels of biochemical biomarker
urinary collage type II telopeptide (uCTx II), super-oxide scavenging activity, level of
habitual physical activity and BMI. Lastly, effect of deep-squatting intervention was
observed inexperimental and control group of non-squatters, to establish squatting as
an effective life-style strategy to improve lower extremity muscle strength.
