http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Even though it is widely used as a therapy for low back pain, a randomized controlled trial finds that patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis (OA) who took glucosamine for six months showed little difference on measures of pain-related disability, low back and leg pain and health-related quality of life, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a study in the July 7 issue of JAMA. http://phys.org/news197657361.html Medicine & Health Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:00:01 EST news197657361 Arthroscopic surgical repair of torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) or meniscal cartilage injuries in the knee does not decrease the chances of developing osteoarthritis, according to a new study published in the online edition and August print issue of the journal Radiology. http://phys.org/news196952738.html Medicine & Health Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:01 EST news196952738 A recent study determined that bone area predicted the development of medial (inner side) and lateral (outer side) knee cartilage damage and loss of medial cartilage volume. Subchondral bone mineral density (BMD) was associated with medial defect development but not cartilage loss. Researchers believe subchondral bone changes and loss of cartilage contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Read details of the study online or in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology. http://phys.org/news196593151.html Medicine & Health Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:40:04 EST news196593151 Two separate studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with a range of rheumatic diseases, with over half of all patients having below the 'normal' healthy levels of vitamin D (48-145 nmol/L) in their bodies. A further study assessing response to vitamin D supplementation found that taking the recommended daily dose did not normalise vitamin D levels in rheumatic disease patients. The results of these three studies were presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy. http://phys.org/news196073454.html Medicine & Health Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:51:14 EST news196073454 Alcohol consumption is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Osteoarthritis (OA), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthropathy, according to results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy. Regardless of the type of arthritis, all patients reported drinking less alcohol than controls, leading to questions around the inflammatory pathways behind the effects seen. http://phys.org/news195901639.html Medicine & Health Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:20:03 EST news195901639 A twice weekly hip strengthening regimen performed for six weeks proved surprisingly effective at reducing -- and in some cases eliminating -- knee pain referred to as patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners. http://phys.org/news194893897.html Medicine & Health Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:12:26 EST news194893897 (PhysOrg.com) -- As a 150-pound person ages, the aches and pains of osteoarthritis -- a degenerative and progressively crippling joint disease -- often become an unpleasant fact of life. Think how the same condition hurts a 1,000-pound moose. http://phys.org/news194717322.html Biology Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:30:01 EST news194717322 An international team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in California and the National Research Institute for Child Health and Development in Japan has discovered that a natural molecule in the body counters the progression of osteoarthritis. The findings could one day lead to new therapies for some common diseases of aging. http://phys.org/news193406213.html Medicine & Health Tue, 18 May 2010 12:58:55 EST news193406213 A recent study determined that African-Americans were less likely to have a varus thrust, but more likely to have valgus thrust than Caucasians. Varus thrust is visualized during gait as the worsening or abrupt onset of varus (bow-legged) alignment as the leg accepts weight, with a return to less varus and more neutral alignment during lift-off of the foot and the swing phase of gait. Prior research has shown that varus thrust seen in gait is associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Disparity in thrust presence between the races may help explain differences in the pattern of osteoarthritic involvement at the knee. Study findings are published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology. http://phys.org/news191741602.html Medicine & Health Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:33:32 EST news191741602 Researchers at King's College London's Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, based at St Thomas' Hospital have discovered new ways of measuring biological markers in the blood which could be used to diagnose osteoarthritis earlier. http://phys.org/news191158421.html Medicine & Health Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:10:08 EST news191158421 A new study shows that arthritis in the knee is linked to the common trait of having one leg that is longer than the other. Whether or not leg length differential is a direct cause of osteoarthritis is not clear, but the findings may allow people to take preventive measures before the onset of the chronic and painful condition. http://phys.org/news189271234.html Medicine & Health Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:40:01 EST news189271234 German researchers determined that concentrations of the sex hormones, testosterone in men and estrogen in women, may have a positive effect on the regenerative potential of cartilage tissue. The study suggests hormone replacement in the joint fluid of men and women might be beneficial in treating late stages of human osteoarthritis (OA) by regenerating damaged tissue. Details of this evidence-based study appear in the April issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology. http://phys.org/news189148641.html Medicine & Health Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:17:37 EST news189148641 Flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles are easier on the knees than clogs or even special walking shoes, a study by Rush University Medical Center has found. And that's important, because loading on the knee joints is a key factor in the development of osteoarthritis. http://phys.org/news188650472.html Medicine & Health Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:20:23 EST news188650472 Ever noticed how two people can suffer from back pain, say, but one will moan and groan and take to bed while the other will get up and about and on with life? Pain specialists have often noted that conditions that seem similar on the outside can cause widely varying amounts of reported pain. http://phys.org/news187597426.html Medicine & Health Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:24:23 EST news187597426 While physicians strive to set realistic expectations for patients undergoing knee and hip joint replacements, a new study reveals that doctor and patient expectations are sometimes not aligned. The study, reported by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons held March 9-13 in New Orleans (poster P140), suggests that steps need to be taken to bridge the expectation gap. http://phys.org/news187438004.html Medicine & Health Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:20:02 EST news187438004 Electromagnetic pulses significantly decrease pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to Henry Ford Hospital researchers. http://phys.org/news187152485.html Medicine & Health Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:10:01 EST news187152485 (PhysOrg.com) -- "Progressive walking" combined with glucosamine sulphate supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. http://phys.org/news186225111.html Medicine & Health Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:03 EST news186225111 "Progressive walking" combined with glucosamine sulphate supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open-access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy found that patients who walked at least two bouts of 1500 steps each on three days of the week reported significantly less arthritis pain, and significantly improved physical function. http://phys.org/news185545032.html Medicine & Health Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:01 EST news185545032 Scientists have automated the measurement of a vital part of the knee in images with a computer program that performs much faster and just as reliably as humans who interpret the same images. http://phys.org/news183646073.html Medicine & Health Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:49:25 EST news183646073 Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the ten most disabling diseases in the developed world and is set to become more of a financial burden on health services as average life expectancy increases. http://phys.org/news183382937.html Medicine & Health Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:01 EST news183382937 More and more Americans with chronic pain not caused by cancer are taking medically prescribed opioids like Oxycontin (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone). The January 19 Annals of Internal Medicine features the first study to explore the risk of overdose in patients prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in general health care. The study links risk of fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose to prescription use -- strongly associating the risk with the prescribed dose. http://phys.org/news183049118.html Medicine & Health Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:01 EST news183049118 A soccer-specific exercise program that includes individual instruction of athletes appears to reduce the risk of knee injuries in young female players, according to a report in the January 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. http://phys.org/news182452428.html Medicine & Health Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:20:01 EST news182452428 Researchers participating in the Multidimensional Intervention for Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Knee Study) determined that physically inactive, middle-aged people with symptomatic osteoarthritis benefitted equally from strength training regimens, self-management programs, or a combination of the two. Details of this study are available in the January 2010 issue of Arthritis Care & Research. http://phys.org/news181908819.html Medicine & Health Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:40:05 EST news181908819 Total hip and total knee replacement surgeries are highly successful and very common procedures for people experiencing pain associated with degenerative joints. With a new hip or knee, and postoperative care prescribed by their doctors, most patients are able to regain a more active lifestyle with considerably less pain. http://phys.org/news181842287.html Medicine & Health Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:00:03 EST news181842287 Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of PM&R: The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes. http://phys.org/news181830502.html Medicine & Health Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:28:39 EST news181830502 Health and social care provision needs to be put in place for a large increase (33%) in the 85 year old population in the UK by 2020, according to a study published today in the British Medical Journal. http://phys.org/news180767378.html Medicine & Health Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:10:26 EST news180767378 Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent disease, raised aggregate annual medical care expenditures in the U.S. by $185.5 billion according to researchers from Stony Brook University. Insurers footed $149.4 billion of the total medical spend and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were $36.1 billion (2007 dollars). Results of the cost analysis study are published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology. http://phys.org/news178780955.html Medicine & Health Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:23:06 EST news178780955 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have found a pharmacological approach to treating the disease. The study is published in the November 15 advance online edition of Nature Medicine. http://phys.org/news177671799.html Medicine & Health Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:40:02 EST news177671799 Adults who had experienced physical abuse as children have 56 per cent higher odds of osteoarthritis compared to those who have not been abused, according to a new study by University of Toronto researchers. http://phys.org/news176387584.html Medicine & Health Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:50:06 EST news176387584 Researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine have determined that patients over 65 years of age with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who engage in regular Tai Chi exercise improve physical function and experience less pain. Tai Chi (Chuan) is a traditional style of Chinese martial arts that features slow, rhythmic movements to induce mental relaxation and enhance balance, strength, flexibility, and self-efficacy. Full findings of the study are published in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology. http://phys.org/news176014700.html Medicine & Health Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:30:01 EST news176014700