Table 2 List of non-invasive OA models listing their uses, advantages, and disadvantages

IATPF

Reproduces PTOA from high energy impact

Not useful for chronic injuries

Used to study early OA changes after acute injuries or fractures

Not useful for low energy impact

Severity of lesions can be adjusted

CACTC

Reproduces chronic joint overuse

Not useful for acute injuries

Used to study early OA changes after chronic overuse injury

Several cycles and weeks needed to cause severe changes

Tibial compression overload

Reproduces PTOA from low energy impact

Not useful for long-term studies

Used to study severe early OA changes after acute injuries

Cannot use contralateral limb as control in long-term studies

One single load needed

Transarticular Impact

Reproduces PTOA

Cannot use contralateral limb as control in long-term studies

Severity can be adjusted

Potential to study surgical knee replacement

Readily available non-invasive studies