Joint biomarker response to mechanical stimuli in osteoarthritis - A scoping review

Arthritic cartilage is primed for mechanical damage. Joint biochemical markers (JBM) could provide insight into the impact of mechanical stimulation on joint tissue turnover in osteoarthritis (OA) of potential use in clinical OA research and practice. However, existing studies of the acute impact of physical activities (PA) on JBM often contain risks of substantial bias. The purpose of this scoping review was to critically review and discuss existing reports of acute joint tissue turnover as reflected in JBM in relation to PA in OA and propose considerations for future research.

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus and reference lists for original reports on the acute impact of PA on JBM in human OA. Identified studies were reviewed by two reviewers forming the basis for the discussion of methodology.

Search in databases resulted in nine eligible papers after full-text evaluation. Two additional papers were identified through reference lists, resulting in 11 papers included in this review. Ten investigated knee OA and one investigated hand OA. Biomarkers described were related to turnover of type II collagen, aggrecan, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.

The literature is dominated by small, simplistic studies, but suggests that mechanical stimulation can induce acute changes in joint biomarkers. In order to diminish the existing bias in future studies, it is important to recognize methodological considerations e.g. patient and biomarker selection as well as peri-interventional control. Common potential sources of bias include the acute shift in plasma volume due to cardiovascular stress and postural changes.