Changes in Body Fat Over Time Following Knee Injuries in Young Athletes: Insights for Preventing Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
By
Justin M. Losciale
Nuria EJ Jansen
Christina Y. Le
Leo Lu
Hui Xie
Marienke van Middelkoop
Jackie L. Whittaker
July 13, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Changes in Body Fat Over Time Following Knee Injuries in Young Athletes: Insights for Preventing Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA) Key Mechanisms Elevated odds of overweight or obesity following sport-related knee injuries. Target Population Youth athletes aged 14-18 years with sport-related knee injuries. Care Setting Prospective cohort study assessing adiposity changes.
Key Highlights
Youth with sport-related knee injuries have similar adiposity gains compared to uninjured peers. Study involved 186 youth, with assessments at multiple time points over 2 years. No significant differences in fat mass gain between injured and uninjured groups. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess knee injuries in youth athletes to evaluate risk for PTOA. Management
Monitor adiposity changes in youth post-knee injury to inform prevention strategies. Monitoring & Follow-up
Regular follow-ups on fat mass and physical activity levels in injured youth. Risks
Increased risk of overweight and obesity in youth following knee injuries. Patient & Prescribing Data
Youth athletes aged 14-18 years with sport-related knee injuries.
Initial post-injury period may be critical for preventing future overweight and obesity.
Clinical Best Practices
Implement preventive strategies targeting weight management in youth post-knee injury. Encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices after injury. Related Resources & Content
