Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among older people, and it is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among older adults. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the disease affects both men and women. Before age 45, osteoarthritis is more common in men than in women. After age… Continue reading Osteoarthritis: What You Must Know
Tag: Osteoarthritis
What Obesity Does to the Spine
With so much focus on the many health risks of obesity – including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer – many people overlook what obesity can also do to the spine, About one-third of American adults – approximately 79 million people – have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as obese.… Continue reading What Obesity Does to the Spine
How to Conquer Knee Pain
Standing up slowly, maybe with a little sigh or grunt? No one wants to admit to such a thing. Joints do wear out as we age, but there are things you can do to keep your knees healthy longer. Joint pain stems from osteoarthritis (OA), a condition marked by the breakdown of cartilage – the… Continue reading How to Conquer Knee Pain
Why is Osteoarthritis of the Knee More Common in Women Than in Men?
Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University have found clear differences in the synovial fluid of the knee joints of men and women. In a study published in June 2017 in the journal Scientific Reports, the team wrote that messages cells are sending and receiving via tiny pieces of RNA, called microRNA,… Continue reading Why is Osteoarthritis of the Knee More Common in Women Than in Men?
People Who Have Painful Conditions Fare Better Over Time When Spouses Are Empathetic
The dynamics of spouses’ daily interactions may influence whether an ill partner’s physical functioning improves over time, according to findings published June 12TH 2017 in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. A release from the association quotes Ohio State researcher Stephanie J. Wilson, lead author on the study who completed the… Continue reading People Who Have Painful Conditions Fare Better Over Time When Spouses Are Empathetic
Recreational Running Benefits Hip and Knee Joint Health
Recreational runners are less likely to experience knee and hip osteoarthritis compared to sedentary people and competitive runners, according to a study published in the June i2017 ssue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy® (JOSPT®). A release from the publishers notes that the study concludes that running at a recreational level for… Continue reading Recreational Running Benefits Hip and Knee Joint Health
The Gene Associated with Age-Related Hearing Loss
The gene Slc4a10 had already been identified as necessary for eye function, but a new study linked defective Slc4a10 to age-related hearing loss for the first time. Age is a risk factor for many conditions, including hearing loss, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and others, but the genes that we carry also influence whether we are more or… Continue reading The Gene Associated with Age-Related Hearing Loss
Beating Osteoarthritis Knee Pain: Beyond Special Shoes
We have plenty of fairy tales about shoes that work magic in people’s lives: glass slippers that brought love to Cinderella, and sparkly red heels that gave Dorothy powers in MGM’s version of The Wizard of Oz. In real life, footwear magic is limited to “unloading” shoes that may help relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis.… Continue reading Beating Osteoarthritis Knee Pain: Beyond Special Shoes
Exercising with Osteoarthritis
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is seen especially among older people. Sometimes it is called degenerative joint disease, the institute says. Osteoarthritis mostly affects cartilage, the hard but slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet… Continue reading Exercising with Osteoarthritis
Arthritis: What You Need to Know
The word “arthritis” makes many people think of painful, stiff joints. But, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Some types… Continue reading Arthritis: What You Need to Know
Improving a Controversial Arthritis Treatment
Cornell University bioengineers have discovered that a common but controversial osteoarthritis may be more effective when it is adjusted. Injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are a common treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee – a condition that affects 27 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The injections replace… Continue reading Improving a Controversial Arthritis Treatment
Increased Risk of a Heart Attack Right After Joint Replacement Surgery
Boston-based researchers found that osteoarthritis patients who had total knee or hip joint replacement surgery known as arthroplasty were at increased risk of heart attacks (myocardial infarction) in the early post-operative period. However, the good news is that long-term risk of heart attacks did not persist. Yet the not-so-good news is that the risk for… Continue reading Increased Risk of a Heart Attack Right After Joint Replacement Surgery
Who Needs a Knee Replacement?
Knee replacement is an operation that involves removing parts of one’s natural knee joint and replacing them with artificial ones. Knee replacement is the most common joint replacement surgery. The main reason to have knee replacement surgery is to ease pain and disability caused by arthritis or other joint problems, while preserving movement. Less commonly,… Continue reading Who Needs a Knee Replacement?
Newfound Cause of Osteoarthritis
A mechanism of joint destruction caused by a natural material that grinds away healthy cartilage and worsens osteoarthritis has been identified in human hip joints for the first time by University of Liverpool scientists in the UK.
The scientists, with Professor Alan Boyde and colleagues from Queen Mary University of London, were studying the hip of a man with a rare genetic condition, alkaptonuria (AKU). This is a metabolic disease in which a substance called homogentisic acid accumulates in joint cartilage, causing changes to its physical properties.
Omega-3 Lessens Severity of Osteoarthritis
Mice consuming a supplement of omega-3 fatty acids had healthier joints than those fed diets high in saturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids, according to Duke Medicine researchers.
The findings, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases on July 11th 2014, suggest that unhealthy dietary fats – not just obesity – may contribute to worsening osteoarthritis.
6,000 Steps a Day Helps Ease OA
Research done at from Sargent College at Boston University in Massachusetts shows that walking just 6,000 steps a day reduces the risk of developing mobility issues such as difficulty getting up from a chair and climbing stairs that are often associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The typical recommendation I 10,000 steps – about five miles — a day but BU team found that fewer steps will do the trick. The study, which was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, was published in June 2014 in in Arthritis Care & Research.