Osteoarthritis
Physiotherapy is key to quality of life for people with all forms of arthritis, highlights Will Gregory
Osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. While they are different conditions – despite the name they have in common – both affect the joints. And their symptoms and outcomes can be improved by physiotherapy.
Lipofilling may improve pain and function in finger arthritis
For people with painful finger osteoarthritis, the advent of a nonsurgical procedure called lipofilling could be welcome news. Lipofilling is when fat from another part of the body is transferred into arthritic joints. Research involving 18 people suggests the procedure produces lasting improvements in hand function and especially pain.
Men and women process pain signals differently scientists discover
Neurons in the spinal cord process pain signals differently in women and men, scientists discover for the first time. The finding could lead to better and more personalised treatments for chronic pain.
Knee op in the pipeline? Do some physiotherapy while you wait experts suggest
Pain, and overly thinking – catastrophising – about pain means knee replacement operations can be less successful. A good quality home-based physiotherapy programme may be a solution; if people deal with pain better, the success rate of surgery goes up.
Exercise changes gut microbes and eases inflammation via endocannabinoids
Exercise appears to alter the gut microbes, which increases endocannabinoids, in turn reducing inflammation and potentially helping treat conditions including arthritis.
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