Latest news with #OsteoarthritisandCartilage
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Why many 30-year-olds already have knee damage, even without symptoms
If you're in your early 30s and think your knees are perfectly healthy just because they don't hurt, think again. A new study has revealed that many young adults already show signs of knee damage, even if they feel no pain at all. Even symptom-free knees may already be damaged, study shows Published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the study titled Structural knee MRI findings are already frequent in a general population-based birth cohort at 33 years of age used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to examine the knees of 288 participants. The study found nearly two-thirds of these 33-year-olds had early cartilage damage or bone overgrowth, even though most of them had no knee pain. What did the MRI scans reveal about knee structure at age 30? Researchers scanned the knees of 288 participants (61 per cent women) aged 33.7 years on average. Participants were asked to point out which knee, if any, gave them more trouble, and that knee was scanned. 56.2 per cent had cartilage damage where the kneecap meets the thigh bone (patellofemoral joint) 25.3 per cent had damage in the tibiofemoral joint, where the thigh bone meets the shin Full-thickness cartilage damage, which is more severe, was seen in 11.8 per cent of scans Osteophytes (bony outgrowths, often linked to arthritis) were seen in over half of the scans, mostly small or doubtful, but still a sign of early joint changes What's notable is that most of these participants had no pain or symptoms. In fact, average pain scores were very low across the group. Obesity, high BMI linked to silent knee deterioration The biggest factor, according to the study, is body weight. Body Mass Index (BMI) was consistently associated with cartilage damage and osteophytes. In other words, the heavier the person, the more likely they were to show early signs of knee joint degeneration, even without pain. Other contributing factors included: Elevated uric acid levels (P-Urate): This can indicate metabolic issues or early signs of gout High systolic blood pressure: While not directly linked to knee damage in multivariable models, it is a marker of metabolic syndrome and may play a secondary role Family history of osteoarthritis (OA): Particularly associated with cartilage thinning and inflammation markers Why younger adults are seeing early joint damage Knee osteoarthritis and other forms of joint damage are traditionally seen as problems of old age. But lifestyle changes, such as reduced physical activity, increased screen time, and poor dietary habits, have led to rising rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome in younger adults. Early signs of knee stress that may be easy to miss The study has highlighted that structural knee damage can occur without pain. But if you start experiencing the following symptoms, then your knees might be under stress: Mild knee stiffness in the morning or after sitting too long Clicking, popping, or a feeling of instability in the knee Occasional swelling or discomfort after physical activity Can cartilage damage be reversed or prevented? According to experts, knee damage cannot be reversed, but possibly slowed or prevented. While cartilage doesn't heal easily once damaged, you can: Lose weight to reduce pressure on joints (every extra kilo adds 3–5 times more stress to your knees) Stay physically active with low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, or yoga Strengthen muscles around the knee to improve joint stability Manage metabolic health, including blood pressure and uric acid levels Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking, which may worsen systemic inflammation What lifestyle changes should 30-somethings make now? This study is a wake-up call, especially for those who assume youth equals immunity from joint problems. If you're in your 30s: Don't wait for pain to take knee health seriously Monitor your weight, stay active, and eat a joint-friendly diet rich in omega-3s and antioxidants Get screened if you have a family history of arthritis or are overweight Even a small lifestyle change today could make a big difference in how your knees feel a decade from now. According to experts, knee joint damage doesn't wait for old age. It creeps in silently, especially if obesity and metabolic issues go unchecked. The earlier you act, the better your chances of protecting your knees for the long haul.
1News
13-05-2025
- Health
- 1News
Knee pain is a global affliction – study reveals best diet for prevention
Osteoarthritis of the knee affects hundreds of millions of people globally and limits basic activities like walking and getting in and out of chairs. But studies show simple lifestyle tweaks, including diet, can play a big role in prevention of the condition. A group of health researchers at the University of Sydney share their findings. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, affecting more than 3 million Australians and over 500 million people worldwide. The knee is the most commonly affected joint, but osteoarthritis can also affect other joints including the hips and hands. The condition causes painful and stiff joints. For someone with knee osteoarthritis, simple activities that many people take for granted such as walking, going up and down stairs or squatting can be very challenging. There's currently no cure for osteoarthritis. Most available treatments, such as exercise, walking aids and medicines (including paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), focus on managing symptoms. But it's important to consider how we can prevent knee osteoarthritis in the first place. With this in mind, we undertook a systematic review to summarise the risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis. Our findings, published today in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, can help us better understand how to lower the risk of this condition. We gathered data from studies which followed people over time, to see which risk factors were associated with developing knee osteoarthritis. We included a total of 131 studies, involving more than 5 million people. We identified more than 150 factors that influenced the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Some key factors which increased the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis included being overweight or obese, past knee injury and occupational physical activity such as lifting heavy objects and shift work. We also found several other possible risk factors, including: eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods (which include 'junk foods', sugary drinks and processed meats) poor sleep quality (for example, sleeping less than six hours a day or having 1–2 restless nights per week) feeling depressed Being overweight or obese and past knee injury together accounted for 14% of the overall risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. In other words, if we were able to completely remove these two risk factors, we could potentially reduce the incidence of knee osteoarthritis in the population by 14%. Females had almost double the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, and older age was slightly related to developing knee osteoarthritis. On the other hand, we found some factors may lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. These included following a Mediterranean diet (which includes plenty of vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fruit and healthy fats found in fish), and following a diet higher in fibre. Avoiding the things which increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis such as a diet high in ultra-processed foods, knee injury, weight gain and heavy lifting can also help a person reduce their risk of developing the condition. Exercise is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. It can reduce pain and improve function. There was not enough information in our study to determine what types of physical activity (for example, walking, running, swimming) and how much time spent doing these activities could lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, so this is an important area for future research. The studies we included did not generally explore the possible mechanisms linking key risk factors with the development of knee osteoarthritis. However other research may provide some helpful insights. Knee injury can lead to instability of the knee joint and additional wear on the knee which can lead to knee osteoarthritis. Similarly, occupational physical activity such as kneeling, squatting, climbing or heavy lifting can increase the risk of wear and tear on the knee. Poor sleep has been linked to weight gain and depression. The duration and quality of sleep has been found to affect how much we eat and the hormones responsible for regulating metabolism. Depression has been linked to reduced physical activity which can lead to weight gain. Carrying extra weight can increase the load on the knee and contribute to knee osteoarthritis. Shift work can lead to bad food choices and lack of sleep, which in turn can increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis. So it seems that while the risk factors we found may be contributing individually to the development of knee osteoarthritis, they may also be interacting together to increase the risk. It's not clear why women are at greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. However this is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including lifestyle, biological and hormonal factors. A Mediterranean diet is high in polyphenols, which can reduce inflammation in the body and destruction of cartilage. It may lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in this way. There were some limitations with the available evidence. Most studies were based on populations from the United States, or did not report on ethnicity. We know little about the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in certain groups such as people from Hispanic, African and Southeast Asian backgrounds. We need more studies exploring risk factors in other countries and populations. Nonetheless, a review like this allows us to better understand what can be done to lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. We found most risk factors associated with developing knee osteoarthritis are modifiable, which means they can be changed or better managed with healthy diet and lifestyle choices. Eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and taking proactive steps to prevent injuries in the workplace and sporting communities can potentially lower a person's risk of developing the condition. Public health strategies aimed at encouraging healthy eating and weight loss (for example, subsidised nutrition programs and education programs starting from a young age to promote optimal diet and physical activity) could reduce the burden of knee osteoarthritis and have broader health benefits as well. Programs like these, as well as reducing heavy lifting in the workplace where possible, should be the focus of government strategies to address the burden of this painful condition globally. By Christina Abdel Shaheed (Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney), David Hunter (Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney), Lyn March (Liggins Professor of Rheumatology and Musculosketal Epidemiology Medicine, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney), and Vicky Duong (Research Fellow, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney) This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
30-year-olds are facing early knee damage. Study explains the reason behind it
A new study led by Joona Tapio and Antti Kemppainen from the University of Oulu suggests that knee joints can undergo silent deterioration long before any pain appears. This may explain why many 33-year-olds already show signs of cartilage damage in their knees despite experiencing no discomfort. Also read | Knee pain stopping you from being active? Expert shares 6 tips on how you can modify your exercises Published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the study found that structural damage in the knees is surprisingly common among adults in their 30s—even in those with no symptoms. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the young adults studied had cartilage damage or bone growths that had likely developed over years or even decades, all without any noticeable pain. The study was conducted by analysing MRI scans of 288 participants (about 61% women) with an average age of 33.7 years from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. To understand the patterns better, the study selected participants from Finland's two northernmost provinces, born between July 1985 and June 1986. Comprehensive clinical evaluations, laboratory analyses, and knee MRIs of the participants were studied. Also read | Say goodbye to joint pain without surgery: Expert shares 8 tips on diet plan, lifestyle tweaks, treatments and therapies Even though most of the participants reported no signs of pain, they were asked which knee troubled them more. The MRI scans of that knee was studied. In most cases, structural changes were observed in those knees. Half of the participants had damage in the cartilage where the kneecap meets the thigh bone, while a quarter of the participants showed damage where the thigh bone meetings the shin bone. The study authors explained that one of the essential factors that can drive joint changes is body weight. Body Mass Index was observed to be one of the driving forces behind increasing rates and severity of knee damages. Also read | Knee pain and mental health: How stress, anxiety, and chronic pain interact Another factor that drives joint changes is elevated blood urate levels and systolic blood pressure. A family history of knee osteoarthritis was also observed to have an influence. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Business Standard
24-04-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Sun Pharma and Israel-based Moebius Medical publish two articles on MM-II
A novel non-opioid product for the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Israel-based Moebius Medical announced today the publication of two articles in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the official journal of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), highlighting MM-II, a novel non-opioid product for the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. MM-II is based on a proprietary suspension of large, empty, multilamellar liposomes designed to reduce joint friction and wear, thereby alleviating pain. The two publications offer complementary insights into MM-II's clinical efficacy and mechanism of action, underscoring its potential therapeutic value. The first publication presents results from a Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04506463), which enrolled 397 patients across the US, Europe and Asia. Findings demonstrate that a single injection of MM-II provided clinically meaningful pain relief through 26 weeks, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The second publication, titled Empty large liposomes reduce cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritic rats by forming a lubricative coating, details MM-II's unique mechanism of action. The research shows that MM-II forms a lubricative layer over cartilage surfaces, reducing friction and slowing cartilage degeneration. The authors suggest that the results of the clinical trial may be mediated through the coating of the cartilage surfaces, though additional mechanisms may contribute to the long term pain reduction seen in Phase 2b study. The data from these publications show that MM-II has the potential to provide durable pain relief for patients, said Prof. Thomas J Schnitzer, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist and professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and lead author of the clinical trial manuscript. With limited treatment options, lack of novel treatment approaches, and concerns around opioid use, MM-II may offer a promising alternative to hyaluronic acid and steroid treatments.
