News and information about the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) and arthritis and rheumatology research. Written for NDB participants and anyone with a rheumatic disease.
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Friday, July 29, 2005
Knee pain can point to other pain, depression
"The knee bone is connected to the thigh bone, and the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone, but could the knee bone be connected to the backbone?" - from HealthDay
"The knee bone is connected to the thigh bone, and the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone, but could the knee bone be connected to the backbone?" - from HealthDay
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Having a problem with your NDB questionnaire?
Did you get stuck while working on your questionnaire? If you need help, please contact us using the "Techinical Support" link at the top of your WebQuest questionnaire. The link will open up your email program and create an email that contains information we can use to help you get going again. You can also use Technical Support if you have a question about how to answer something.
If you are unable to open your questionnaire, please contact us by replying to the original email we sent you, the one with the link. This way we'll be able to double check the link. For any other questions about your participation in the study, please just send us an email at webquest@arthritis-research.org. We will get back to you ASAP, usually within 24 hours.
Thank you so much for all your help with the research. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Did you get stuck while working on your questionnaire? If you need help, please contact us using the "Techinical Support" link at the top of your WebQuest questionnaire. The link will open up your email program and create an email that contains information we can use to help you get going again. You can also use Technical Support if you have a question about how to answer something.
If you are unable to open your questionnaire, please contact us by replying to the original email we sent you, the one with the link. This way we'll be able to double check the link. For any other questions about your participation in the study, please just send us an email at webquest@arthritis-research.org. We will get back to you ASAP, usually within 24 hours.
Thank you so much for all your help with the research. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Even a pound can help
You've heard this before, but here's another study showing the benefits of losing weight for people with Osteoarthritis.
"Excess weight can contribute to the both the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down over time, causing inflammation, pain and stiffness.
Experts recommend that overweight and obese adults with knee arthritis lose weight and exercise to help manage the condition. But whether weight loss actually slows the progression of knee arthritis is not yet clear, Dr. Stephen P. Messier of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues note in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
In their study, the team tried to gauge the effects weight loss can have on arthritis patients' knee mechanics. The participants, all older adults with disabling arthritis symptoms, were part of a larger weight-loss study.
The researchers performed a 'gait analysis' of each patient at the beginning of the study, and 6 and 18 months later. As mentioned, they found that for each pound participants lost during that time, there was a four-fold greater reduction in the force going into the knee with each step they took." - from MedlinePlus
You've heard this before, but here's another study showing the benefits of losing weight for people with Osteoarthritis.
"Excess weight can contribute to the both the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down over time, causing inflammation, pain and stiffness.
Experts recommend that overweight and obese adults with knee arthritis lose weight and exercise to help manage the condition. But whether weight loss actually slows the progression of knee arthritis is not yet clear, Dr. Stephen P. Messier of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues note in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
In their study, the team tried to gauge the effects weight loss can have on arthritis patients' knee mechanics. The participants, all older adults with disabling arthritis symptoms, were part of a larger weight-loss study.
The researchers performed a 'gait analysis' of each patient at the beginning of the study, and 6 and 18 months later. As mentioned, they found that for each pound participants lost during that time, there was a four-fold greater reduction in the force going into the knee with each step they took." - from MedlinePlus
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Acupuncture May Do Little for Fibromyalgia
"Acupuncture appears to relieve the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia no better than sham acupuncture procedures, according to new study findings. The investigators found that people with fibromyalgia who received acupuncture for fibromyalgia twice per week for 12 weeks were no more likely to report decreases in pain than people who received acupuncture designed for a different condition, needles inserted into random locations, or simulated acupuncture without needles.... Up to 9 out of 10 people with fibromyalgia say they use at least one type of alternative medicine, including acupuncture. To investigate how well the treatment may work for this condition, Buchwald and her colleagues asked 100 people with fibromyalgia to try acupuncture or sham forms of the treatment, and to rate their pain levels up to 6 months after treatment." - from MedlinePlus
"Acupuncture appears to relieve the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia no better than sham acupuncture procedures, according to new study findings. The investigators found that people with fibromyalgia who received acupuncture for fibromyalgia twice per week for 12 weeks were no more likely to report decreases in pain than people who received acupuncture designed for a different condition, needles inserted into random locations, or simulated acupuncture without needles.... Up to 9 out of 10 people with fibromyalgia say they use at least one type of alternative medicine, including acupuncture. To investigate how well the treatment may work for this condition, Buchwald and her colleagues asked 100 people with fibromyalgia to try acupuncture or sham forms of the treatment, and to rate their pain levels up to 6 months after treatment." - from MedlinePlus
Now available for your support group or arthritis meetings....Our new pamphlets explain what we do and how you and can help. Each one has a postage-paid postcard to request more information or join the project. The pamphlets and a small table-top stand are available free from the NDB. Just send us an email!