Knee Effusion-synovitis Is Not Associated With Self-reported Knee Pain In Collegiate Female Athletes

Knee effusion-synovitis, characterized by fluid accumulation and inflammation in the knee joint, can notably affect athletes, potentially impacting their pain levels and performance. Utilizing ultrasound imaging may be critical for evaluating how this condition influences self-reported knee pain specifically in elite female athletic populations. PURPOSE: To examine the association between ultrasound-assessed effusion-synovitis prevalence and self-reported knee pain in Division I female athletes. METHODS: Fifty-three female NCAA Division I athletes (Height: 169.3 ± 6.7 cm; Mass: 68.0 ± 9.3 kg; Age: 19.0 ± 1.2 years; Sport Type: field hockey = 19; volleyball = 12; soccer = 22) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Bilateral longitudinal suprapatellar knee ultrasound scans were used to assess the presence of effusion-synovitis based on a validated ultrasound grading scale. Knee pain was assessed using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain subscale. One-way ANOVA compared the differences in self-reported knee pain between three effusion-synovitis groups: none, unilateral, bilateral. RESULTS: Twenty-six athletes (49.1%) showed no effusion-synovitis with a mean KOOS pain score of 93.5, 14 athletes (26.4%) exhibited it unilaterally and a mean KOOS pain score of 93.0, and 13 athletes (24.5%) displayed it bilaterally and reported a KOOS pain score of 92.8. There was no significant difference in self-reported knee pain between groups (F = 0.027; p = 0.973). CONCLUSION: Over half of the participants presented with effusion-synovitis and underscores the potential importance of monitoring knee joint health within female collegiate athletes. The lack of association between effusion-synovitis and self-reported knee pain may be due to our participants presenting with lower grades of effusion-synovitis. Further research should examine whether more severe grades of effusion-synovitis are more strongly related to self-reported knee pain.Dr. Harkey was supported by a National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) grant (K01 AR081389). ChatGPT was used to revise the content of this research abstract