ArthritisDigest2013
Vitamin D and calcium supplements: call for consistent dosage recommendations
There is a need for clear international consensus on how much calcium and vitamin D is suitable for older women to take when looking to improve their bone health.
A study published in Menopause looked at 163 women between 57 years and 90 years whose vitamin D levels were too low. They were given calcium citrate tablets to meet their recommended intake of 1,200mg per day, as well as doses of vitamin D ranging from 400 to 4,800 international units daily. Continue reading
Joint replacement success may hinge on metal allergies for some people
Metal allergies can lead to failure of replacement joints so people should be evaluated for a possible reaction before and after surgery, according to a new review of research published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Although metal allergies are relatively uncommon and most people have successful and stable joint replacements, the number of total joint replacements is on the rise and so is the number of revisions. Continue reading
Scottish base for state-of-the-art chronic pain centre
A national service to help people with chronic pain is to be based in Glasgow, following a recent announcement by the Scottish government
A dedicated team will provide residential courses for patients and carers on how to cope with the effects of chronic pain, and how to manage their condition.
Chronic pain affects about 18% of the population and is often attached to other conditions, such as arthritis, cancer and back pain, which means it is often left to those specialist departments rather than having a service dedicated to the pain itself. Continue reading
Exercising in water helps manage osteoarthritis – review of studies backs up advice
Exercising in water is an effective way of managing symptoms of lower limb osteoarthritis, says a review of research published in Physical Therapy.
Until now there has been no systematic analysis of the effects of therapeutic aquatic exercise on people with osteoarthritis, despite the fact that it is “considered one of the most important management options”. Continue reading
Stem cell therapy may halt osteoarthritis progression
Stem cell therapy is back under the spotlight as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis, thanks to research published in Cell Transplantation. A team from Taiwan has found that mobilising blood stem cells before injecting them into the body stimulated bone marrow to produce its own stem cells, which led to the inhibition of osteoarthritis progression. Continue reading
