| lor: #ffffff;" /> | | | | as osteoarthritis of the kb nee is concerned. |
| Osteoarthritis (OA), the premature wearing away of | | | | In other words, exercise appears to strengthen joint |
| cartilage- the gristle that caps the ends of long bones | | | | cartilage in patients with OA of the knee. |
| is the most common form of arthritis. It is the type | | | | Measurements of glycosaminoglycans, a measure of |
| of arthritis that conjures up the elderly person who | | | | strength and elastricity in the joint, showed significant |
| has aches and pains. | | | | improvements in the knees of patients with OA who |
| New data though shows that osteoarthritis probably | | | | regularly exercised compared to control subjects who |
| begins earlier, probably in the second decade, in many | | | | did not. |
| patients. | | | | Many patients with OA of the knees are resistant to |
| Dr. Ewa Roos, professor in the Institute of Sports | | | | the idea of exercise since they feel it may cause the |
| Science and Clinical Biomechanics of the University of | | | | joints to wear down even faster. The results of the |
| Southern Denmark, presented an intriguing paper | | | | above studies clearly indicate that exercise should be |
| outlining her research. In it she described two | | | | encouraged. |
| populations of patients who suffer from | | | | For symptomatic relief, strengthening and stretching |
| osteoarthritis of the knee. The first group was | | | | exercises accompanied by the judicious use of ice |
| comprised mainly of older women. The other group, | | | | and anti-inflammatory medications may be quite |
| though, consisted of men in their 30’s and | | | | helpful. |
| 40’s (Roos EM, et al. Arthritis Rheum 2005; | | | | In the past, corticosteroid |
| 52: 3507-3514). | | | | (“cortisone”) injections were routinely |
| A major hurdle to early diagnosis is that many | | | | prescribed for patients with moderate to severe pain |
| younger patients with symptoms will have negative | | | | from OA. However, evidence indicating that |
| imaging studies… in other words, x-rays and | | | | corticosteroids ultimately cause cartilage to wear |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests will be | | | | away faster than it should, has concerned physicians |
| normal. | | | | to the point where these injections are used less. |
| To complicate matters, patients who have x-ray | | | | Viscosupplements, lubricants that help the knee to |
| evidence of osteoarthritis don’t necessarily | | | | glide better, and which may help slow down the |
| have symptoms. | | | | process of wear and tear are helpful for some |
| Risk factors that are common to people with | | | | patients. |
| osteoarthritis are genetic predisposition and excessive | | | | More recently, the use of autologous stem cell |
| weight. | | | | therapy (stem cells harvested from the patient |
| In addition, patients who have suffered knee injuries | | | | himself) has shown great promise, not only for |
| to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and menisci- | | | | symptomatic relief but for actual reversal of cartilage |
| the cartilage cushions in the knee- are also at | | | | wear and tear with possible re-growth of cartilage. |
| increased risk for developing OA (Englund M, et al. | | | | For more information about this procedure, contact |
| Arthritis Rheum 2007; 56:4048-4054). | | | | the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland at |
| In related studies, it has been shown that regular | | | | (301) 694-5800. |
| exercise is both protective and preventative as far | | | | |