Psoriatic arthritis
Being active at any age helps heart health says new study – and how to exercise with arthritis
Being physically active in old age can help reduce the risk of a heart attack, according to new research published in Circulation.
Scientists studied the function of hearts in people over the age of 65 years. They found that those who remained active, or who boosted the amount of exercise they did, had a lower risk of heart problems. Continue reading
Human cartilage grown in lab conditions for the first time
Scientists have successfully grown fully functional human cartilage from human stem cells derived from fat tissue, says research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Previous work has seen researchers make cartilage using young animal cells, but until now nobody has been able to reproduce the results using adult human stem cells from bone marrow or fat (the most practical stem cell source).
Now a team from Columbia Engineering in the US has used a different tissue-engineering approach and successfully grown cartilage with high lubricative properties and compressive strength. Continue reading
Powered wheelchair user or carer? Have your say and influence future research
Powered wheelchair users and carers have a chance to discuss their experiences of obtaining and using their powered wheelchair – by taking part in a national survey launched by Rica.
The UK consumer research and information charity is looking for adults and children to talk about their experiences of: Continue reading
Genetic component to chronic pain, says recent research
An investigation into the causes of chronic pain suggests there are genetic similarities in people who have similar intensities of pain, a finding that could lead to new treatments and future drug development.
Experts asked 2,721 people with chronic pain (that meant they had been prescribed opioid pain medication) to rate the intensity of their pain from 0 to 10: 9% had low pain perception (scored 1–3); 46% had moderate pain perception (scored 4–6); 45% had high pain perception (scored 7–10). Interesting genetic findings were: Continue reading
Massage shows promise for those with limited mobility, new study highlights
Massage improves blood flow and alleviates muscle soreness after exercise – but improves vascular function in those who have not exercised too, says research published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Although improved circulation and relief of muscle soreness are common claims made for massage’s benefits, little research has been done to back up such claims. Continue reading
