Knee prostheses under scrutiny: safety questioned
KNEE implants are the latest prosthetic device to come under scrutiny, with claims there is little or no evidence of safety and cost-effectiveness for many on the market.
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osteoarthritis
The following articles have the tag osteoarthritis
Glucosamine: preventive use widespread
MORE than one in five middle-aged to elderly Australians are taking glucosamine, a study shows.
Exercise referral program a local hit
A SYDNEY GP division’s partnership with local doctors and fitness providers has been so successful it is set to expand.
Glucosamine no better than placebo for OA
GLUCOSAMINE is no better than placebo for osteoarthritis, according to a leading Australian rheumatologist.
Call for increased allied referrals for OA patients
GPs commonly face big barriers in assisting patients to achieve the lifestyle modifications necessary to manage osteoarthritis (OA), a survey shows.
Doubt cast over glucosamine’s benefits in osteoarthritis
PATIENTS with osteoarthritis (OA) are being urged to continue using glucosamine supplements if they wish, despite a study showing the supplement does not alleviate painful symptoms. The study published in the British Medical Journal found glucosamine, chondroitin, or a combination of both, were no more beneficial than a placebo. The Swiss meta-analysis compared the results of 10 trials conducted on 3803 patients. “Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space,” said study authors from the institute of social and preventive medicine at the University ...
The rising rate of AF
A decade ago, atrial fibrillation was considered an emerging epidemic – has it now reached its peak? Kate Woods looks at the rise and rise of AF.
Use of magnet therapy unattractive
THE use of magnets and copper bracelets for pain relief might be a rapidly growing industry, but there is little evidence of the efficacy of magnet therapy, researchers say. Worldwide sales of products containing therapeutic magnets total around $US4 billion ($4.3 billion) annually, say UK researchers. They found when 45 patients with osteoarthritis were randomised to wear four different devices over a 16-week period, none produced any meaningful benefit. The finding contrasts with claims the products reduce pain and stiffness and improve physical functioning. The products used in the study included a commercially available magnetic wrist ...
Vaginal oestrogen protects against incontinence
APPLICATION of local vaginal oestrogen may improve or even cure incontinence in postmenopausal women, researchers say, though its benefits may not continue after treatment ceases. A review of 33 trials found local oestrogen therapy improved incontinence by 26% compared to placebo. Overall, there were one or two fewer voids in 24 hours and fewer nocturnal voids among women treated with local oestrogen, and urgency was also reduced. Some users experienced vaginal spotting, breast tenderness or nausea, but no serious adverse events were reported among users of local oestrogen. However, the authors said there ...
Vitamin D may prevent knee wear and tear
RESEARCHERS have discovered another apparent benefit of vitamin D supplementation in the elderly, finding higher vitamin D levels may prevent or retard knee cartilage loss. While vitamin D insufficiency is well recognised in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, its role in osteoarthritis is less well understood. Researchers from the University of Tasmania have now found a positive association between winter sunlight exposure, serum vitamin D levels and cartilage volume. They found, among 880 adults aged 51-79, that those with serum vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/l showed increased medial tibiofemoral joint space narrowing. The associations were ...
‘Fake’ acupuncture could be as useful as the real thing
SHAM acupuncture techniques are just as effective as real acupuncture in preventing headaches and migraines, according to two separate Cochrane reviews. While reviewers concluded that acupuncture was an effective prophylaxis and treatment for both migraines and tension-type headaches, both reviews suggested that faked procedures, where needles are incorrectly inserted, are as effective. A review of 22 trials found consistent evidence that acupuncture proved beneficial in treating acute migraine. The reviewers said acupuncture should be a treatment option for willing patients as it was as effective as prophylactic drug treatment and had fewer adverse effects. ...
Glucosamine - the great debate
Do glucosamine and chondroitin work as treatments for osteoarthritis? Leigh Parry reports. LIKE many patients battling the nagging pain of osteoarthritis, Dr Lisa Amir keeps a keen eye on potential new therapies. The Melbourne GP, lactation consultant and researcher says she was aware of some evidence that glucosamine could help and it seemed to have no side-effects. “I saw it in the supermarket and I thought, what have I got to lose?” she says. Dr Amir says it is too early to say whether it is helping the arthritis in her first metatarsal, ...