Copper or magnetic bracelets are sold in many stores, including drug stores, with claims that they will relieve arthritic and other chronic musculoskeletal types of pain. While some people may experience relief, up to now, no controlled studies have been done to see if they really do help relieve pain. Researchers from the University of York published their study findings in the most recent issue of Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
The study was a small one, only 45 subjects, so more trials will need to be done, larger ones, to see if the same findings come up, but this study …read more

Patients who are being treated for knee pain are faced with a variety of treatment options. The orthopedic surgeons make their decisions regarding treatment based on the injury, the amount of pain and disability the pain is causing, as well as the patient’s occupation, age, and size. The treatments that can be chosen are usually listed in a set of guidelines, recommended treatments that have been found to be the most effective in a particularly situation.
The professional groups of the various specialities are constantly reviewing and upgrading their recommended guidelines as research provides more information and results from studies. Sometimes, …read more

If you have osteoarthritis and haven’t been getting any relief from various treatments, it may be because many don’t work.
According to an analysis of 21 national guidelines, 60 literature reviews and 300 current randomized clinical trials done on various treatments for osteoarthritis, many don’t work and some may be dangerous. Some medications, called anti-rheumatic drugs, are prescribed for osteoarthritis but they don’t work and they have serious side effects. One of the most notable side effects is gastrointestinal bleeding, or bleeding in the gastrointestinal system.
So, if you have osteoarthritis, discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor to …read more

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are popular nutritional supplements among many people with osteoarthritis. The claim is the supplements help slow the rate of cartilage loss in the joints – usually the hip or knee.
A new study has found though, that after 2 years of taking the dietary supplements, patients showed no improvement over those who took placebos. The results were published in the most recent edition of Arthritis & Rheumatism. An estimated 21 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis.
An earlier study, published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that patients taking glucosamine  didn’t have …read more

There are three things that people are always told they should do in order to stay healthy: 1) eat well, 2) get enough sleep, and 3) exercise regularly. But, if you’re living with chronic pain, the part about getting regular exercise isn’t that easy.
According to a press release issued yesterday “An occupational therapist-led approach – called activity strategy training – could provide patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis the opportunity to lead more active lives and even improve their overall health, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Michigan Health System.”
The training involved having occupational …read more

Along the lines of the "what came first, the chicken or the egg" question, researchers were wondering what came first: arthritis, which caused pain, or pain, which caused arthritis.
According to a study published in the most recent edition of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism; pain signals originate in arthritic joints and are processed as they reach the spinal cord, where they worsen and expand arthritis. As well, the nerve pathways that carries the pain signals transfer inflammation from arthritic joints to the spine and back again, causing disease at both ends.
According to a press release issued by the University of …read more

Osteoarthritis, is often called the “wear and tear” arthritis. It happens as people age and the inside of the weight-bearing joints wear down. So, it comes as no surprise to find out that people who are harder on their joints are at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. And, this includes those who are oveweight or obese, because that means the joints need to support more weight.
A study published in a recent issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research, researchers found that the risk of developing osteoarthritis over your lifetime increased with the body mass index (BMI). In fact, …read more

People who live with chronic pain from osteoarthritis of the hip are usually advised to lose weight if necessary, take pain medications and/or may have surgery to replace the joint. However, exercise may also help relieve osteoarthritis pain, according to study results published in September issue of the journal, Arthritis Care & Research. Despite this, there isn’t a lot of information available as to what type of exercises, how long to do them, and the intensity, is best for pain management.
This particular study was a review of 9 other studies done of people with osteoarthritis who participated in exercise programs. …read more

Press Release
 

ONE IN TWO ADULTS AT RISK FOR PAINFUL KNEE ARTHRITIS
Arthritis Foundation Offers Prevention Tips
ATLANTA, September 3, 2008– A landmark government study suggests nearly one in two people (46%) will develop painful knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime, with the highest risk among those who are obese. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the study underscores the immediate need for the public to understand what they can do to reduce the tremendous pain, disability and cost associated with arthritis.
Arthritis is exploding in an aging population of U.S. baby boomers. Nearly one in five U.S. adults (46 million people) has arthritis and an …read more

When was the last time you saw someone, most often a woman, with a hunched back? This hunched back is called kyphosis, a condition that’s caused by the bones in your spine, the vertebrae, caving in and compressing onto each other.
Imagine a pile of buttons on a table. Put a thread through the pile of buttons and hold the string taut. Those buttons are the vertebrae in your spine. Now, imagine the  thread being pulled towards you; the pile of buttons start to bend so one side – the one closest to you – is compressing one button on top …read more