Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Bone Marrow Edema in a Division I NCAA Women's Soccer Team During a Competitive Season

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of knee bone marrow edema (BME) in female NCAA Division I soccer players, over a competitive season, and the effect of recovery on the prevalence. Thirty percent of knees demonstrated BME at baseline, 53% postseason, and 39% postrecovery. Measured by the Knee Osteoarthritis Scoring System (KOSS), BME changed significantly across the 3 time periods (P = .033). There was a significant increase from preseason to postseason (P = .034) and a significant decrease from postseason to recovery (P = .018). BME is considered a continuation of stress injury, and the clinician should be able to identify and provide early intervention.