Current Arthritis News and Research » Osteoarthritis

Height Controlling Genes Linked to Osteoarthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:19 +0000

Like all aspects of the development of the human body, genetics dictate each individual’s height. Last year a team of researchers identified the initial common gene that influences height. That same team has now identified 20 additional genetic regions that can collectively influence height differences of almost 2.5 inches.

According to the research team, 90% of the variation in height is a result of genetics. This is different than weight issues, such as obesity, which is a result of a mixture of environmental and genetic causes. That first height gene discovered last year is only responsible for less than a quarter of an inch.

The team from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter and the University of Oxford studied DNA samples from over 30,000 people. These samples were obtained from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, the Cambridge Genetics of Energy Metabolism consortium and the CoLaus Study in Switzerland. From these samples the researchers discovered 20 loci, or regions of genetic code, which have an impact on the height.

One of these regions has been identified as an important factor in the development of osteoarthritis. This particular locus is thought to be involved in the growth of cartilage.

“There may be more than a hundred genes which affect our height, many of which will work in surprising or unpredictable ways,” according to Dr. Mike Weedon, lead author on the paper. “The challenge now for us is to understand how they influence growth in the body. This could open up new avenues for treating a range of diseases.”

Originally posted 2008-04-07 19:47:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Glucosamine, Chondroitin May Not Help Osteoarthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:16 +0000

Similar to a Dutch study we reported on in February, results from a U.S. study indicates that glucosamine does not impede the progression of osteoarthritis.

The 2 year Dutch study of the benefits of glucosamine on patients with hip osteoarthritis found that there was no improvement in pain, stiffness, function or disease progression. In addition, 15 of the 222 participants had hip replacement surgery before the end of the study.

The current study, an extension of the National Institutes of Health-funded Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), did not measure effectiveness as a pain reliever, but specifically at impacts on disease progression.

In 2006, researchers from the GAIT trial reported that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements were no better than a placebo for use in reducing knee osteoarthritis pain. That conclusion was based on input from 1,600 participants who took either one, or both, of the supplements.

Of the original participants in the GAIT study, 572 participated in an 18 month extension of the trial. All of these patients were diagnosed with moderate to sever osteoarthritis. The rate of disease progression was measured using a specific X-ray protocol. Results at the end of the extension showed no significant difference between the glucosamine and placebo groups.

According to lead researcher Dr. Allen Sawitzke of the University of Utah School of Medicine: “While we found a trend toward improvement among those with milder osteoarthritis of the knee in those taking glucosamine alone, we were not able to draw any definite conclusions.

“That’s not the same as saying there is no difference. The result was influenced by the slow rate of progression for everybody. The study actually says more about what we need to do for the next investigation than for what patients should do.”

The results of the Utah study were published in the October, 2008 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Originally posted 2008-10-02 21:02:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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New Research Planned into Arthritis Placebo Treatment

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:12 +0000

The University of Manchester is currently recruiting 90 people for an upcoming study into how placebos work. This group includes 30 with chronic, widespread pain, 30 with osteoarthritis and 30 healthy people as controls. The recruits will be from the musculoskeletal pain clinic at Hope Hospital in Salford and other pain clinics.

Most trials include some form of placebo in order to determine the true results of the tested treatment. Patients receiving a placebo frequently experience improvement in their symptoms due to the “power of suggestion” as opposed to any effect from an actual drug. It is this effect that researchers hope to bring light upon as potential treatments for chronic conditions, such as arthritis.

Neuro Rheumatology Professor Anthony Jones, of the Human Pain Research Group at Hope Hospital, is the research lead for a team that has been looking into the placebo effect for several years. His team has studied the body’s response to pain and how to measure anticipation of pain using EEG.

So far they have found that pain relief as a result of the placebo effect appears to be related to structures in the front of the brain that manage the anticipation of pain.

The planned study will look into the placebo effect on fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis patients to determine if they release natural pain killers, known as “endogenous pain control mechanisms”.

The research team believes that people with chronic widespread pain have abnormalities the way that they anticipate and focus on pain. It is suggested that this results in them feeling greater pain than other people.

“Placebo can affect patients’ response to pain therapy and also influence the results of clinical trials,” said Professor Jones.

“We have shown that responses to experimental placebo alter how the brain responds to pain and, also, that responses to experimental placebo persist in repeated testing in healthy volunteers. This allows us to measure how the brain’s pain control system is being activated under different conditions.

“We hope this study will help us understand how the brain deals with pain, and is also likely to lead to the development of new pain-killing therapies and better ways of testing then.”

Originally posted 2008-08-08 21:47:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Playing Golf with Arthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:08 +0000

If you suffer from arthritis, there is great news for you! You do not have to quit playing golf. Actually, golf can help improve the symptoms of arthritis and add strength and mobility!

Exercise has been found to be one of the best ways to treat osteoarthritis. Exercise can help your mood, act as a pain reliever, increase your flexibility, help you to maintain your weight, improve your cardiovascular system, and make you generally healthier!

Osteoarthritis normally comes on very gradually. First, joints may be sore after working hard physically or exercising. Any joint may be affected by osteoarthritis, but it usually occurs in the hands, hips, knees, or spine.

Yes. All of the areas that osteoarthritis usually affects are used in playing golf.

Don’t let it worry you though. Playing golf can also help increase your balance and your range of motion. If you walk the golf course, you will benefit your health even more! That is why golf is one of the exercises that is recommended for someone with osteoarthritis!

Here is what you need to remember there are many special products that are produced just to make golf easier on your joints and body.

The Arthritis Foundation or arthritis.org has some tips for arthritic golfers that can help you enjoy golfing and they even suggest products that can enable you to enjoy it even more!

Wrist braces and gloves are a great tool to wear when you play golf. Stabilizing the joints in your hands and wrists will help your osteoarthritis and both of these items are not very expensive.

A lower compression ball is also a great training aid.

Wearing spikeless golf shoes may be much more comfortable for you.

Ask your local golf store associate or golf pro if there are any products that they recommend to make golf easier on your joints. There are new products introduced all the time.

It is very important to always warm up before you play golf. Stretch your muscles and swing a few times for practice. Swing half-strength at first and don’t try to hit the ball too hard. Everyone should warm up and start swinging slowly. A hard swing is not necessary, it is accuracy that is most important!

Use tees when you play golf. It will help.

Water is very important for any golf player while you are playing.

When you begin to feel tired, rest a bit. It is not a rule that you have to play all 18 holes. You need to make sure you enjoy the game.

When you feel sore after you play, here are a few tips to relieve your pain and stiffness:

A warm shower can feel great on stiff muscles.
Gently stretch your muscles.
Apply an ice pack to any sore areas.
Sore joints need to be rested.
Magnetic therapy has been found to work.
Keep your weight at a healthy level. If you carry too much weight, it can make your hips and knees hurt.

If you are still in pain for more than 1 hour after playing golf, then you need to consult your physician or physical therapist. Work with them to see if there are ways to adjust your game if you notice any of the following symptoms of over exercise:

Unexplained or chronic tiredness
Feeling weak
Decreased range of motion
Joint swelling increases
Pain that continues for more than one hour after exercising

Actually, golf coupled with proper warm ups can really help your osteoarthritis and it is fun too!

Originally posted 2010-03-08 07:00:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Leeches for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis

awesome — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:07 +0000

Knee Osteoarthritis

It sounds like something out of medieval times. Using leeches to treat every disease and condition known to man. But as it turns out leeches are actually very powerful for treating a wide variety of ailments including knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that results in the breakdown of the cartilage between the joints in the knees. This leads to pain, loss of range of motion and bone damage. There appears to be several origins of knee osteoarthritis including joint deformity, repeated injury, or excess weight. There is no cure for osteoarthritis so the focus is on treatments for the pain and reduction of continued damage to the joint.

And this is where leeches come in. Leeches secrete morphine, a potent pain killer. Leeches also secrete an anticoagulant which improves blood flow to the area where the leeches are applied and an anti-inflammatory. Since inflammation is responsible for the symptoms of osteoarthritis, researchers believe that leeches might relieve pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classify leeches as medical devices and has approved them for microsurgery. The FDA is also involved in the regulation of the transport and sale of leeches. In Germany there has been an estimated 70,000 treatments a year over the last few years with four to five used for each treatment. Most of these treatments have been aimed at pain reduction in knee osteoarthritis.

Several studies have been conducted regarding the use of leeches for treating knee osteoarthritis.

One study, reported in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, focused on 16 patients with an average age 68. These patients had experienced persistent knee pain for more than six months. None had suffered any knee injuries and all had x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis. These patients were already treating their knee osteoarthritis with physical therapy, relaxation, diet and exercise.

In this study, part of the group was provided traditional treatment and the rest were treated with leeches. Four leeches were applied to the knee for 80 minutes. Pain levels were measured three days before and 28 day after the treatment. The results were rapid. Treatment with leeches resulted in pain relief after three days and continued through the 28 day test period. The patients who received traditional treatment did not experience relief. There were no side effects noted from the leeches and the patients reported that the initial leech bite was mildly painful.

A larger study was conducted involving 51 patients age 40 and above with knee osteoarthritis with high pain. Four to six leeches were applied to the affected knee and were allowed to remain until they detached themselves, which took about 70 minutes. Then the patients rested the knee for 12 hours. Researchers then measured the patients pain, stiffness and range of motion after 3, 7, 28, and 91 days.

The results were similar to the smaller study. The patients receiving leech therapy reported less pain, less stiffness, better function, and fewer total osteoarthritis symptoms through the full 91 days that the researchers followed them.

These studies give hope for alternative treatments of knee osteoarthritis for reducing pain and increasing mobility. In order to properly validate these studies additional research needs to be conducted over a longer period of time. But it appears that leeches do provide relief to knee osteoarthritis sufferers.

Originally posted 2010-02-01 07:00:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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