Arthritis

Stem cells used in new treatment for damaged cartilage to prevent osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the wearing away of cartilage in a joint, is the most common form of arthritis in the country, and is often caused by weakened or damaged cartilage as a result of injury. Damaged cartilage is usually treated with a procedure known as microfracture, which is only semi-effective and of which the long-term benefits are not known. With a new approach in mind, Dr. Constance Chu of the University of Pittsburgh has been working for the past 20 years on new forms of treatment that use stem cells to regenerate new, improved cartilage.

Cod liver oil supplements capable of reducing Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are forced to limit their usage of NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are essential for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, yet certain people have to limit their usage of NSAIDs due to unwanted gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects. A Scottish study found that cod liver oil supplements were able to lower the amount of NSAIDs taken on a regular basis by a significant degree.

Joint team takes modified approach to preventing PTOA
Orthopedics from the University of Iowa and biomaterials specialists from Iowa State University are in the process of working together to create an improved treatment for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), a condition that usually comes as a result of serious joint injuries.

A call for more conclusive evidence on treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee remains one of the leading causes of debilitation and disability throughout the country, affecting one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 64 and costing more than $81 billion in medical care, lost wages and other expenses While a great many treatments have made their way into common prescriptive methods, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has determined that these forms of treatment are insufficient and under proven, and that more dedicated efforts need to be made towards finding a working remedy for the disease.

Arthroscopic surgery vs. physical therapy for treatment of Osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee (OA knee) is a condition that can be treated with extensive physical and medical therapy or with arthroscopic surgery in other situations. While arthroscopy has risen in popularity, whether or not it is actually more effective than therapy alone is a matter of debate. An investigation sent nearly 200 eligible patients to both forms of treatment and evaluated which was a more beneficial means of alleviating pain.

Osteoarthritis-relieving "device" may supersede Cortisone injections
Cortisone injections have long been a preferred form of treatment for osteoarthritis, the degeneration of articular cartilage in and around joints. With an influx of studies that have actually proven Cortisone injections to be harmful after repeated use, however, a newer treatment classified as a "device," visco supplementation is on the rise.