There has been a promising outcome based on a study using
home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to enhance
quadriceps fitness in older people suffering from Osteoarthritis of the
knee.
Symptoms of this "wear-and-tear" arthritis can be alleviated by
strengthening the muscle around the affected joint or joints. Exercise is
known to lessen the symptoms, severity and impairment resulting from
this disease. In some cases where sufferers are normally sedentary,
exercise may result in muscle damage, particularly in women.
The NMES Study
Laura Talbot of The Johns Hopkins University engineered the study using
neuromuscular electrical stimulation as another method of treatment for
Osteoarthritis of the knee.
This process is undertaken by spurring small electrical currents through
the skin, allowing them to travel to the nerves and muscles to enable
involuntary muscle contraction. A total of 34 adults diagnosed
radiographically (through x-rays) to have Osteoarthritis of the knee
participated in the study.
The 34 participants were randomly chosen to undergo a 12-week
Arthritis Self-Management Course on standard arthritis education, with
or without NMES. The group subjected to NMES was provided with
portable electrical muscle stimulators to be used 3 days a week to train
and strengthen their quadriceps. Over a 12-week period, the isometric
contractions were amplified by increments of 30 to 40% of the maximum.
The main outcome was isometric quadriceps femoris (QF) torque.
Secondary outcomes included:
->daily step counts
->total activity vector magnitude
->100-foot walk-turn-walk
->timed stair climb
->chair rise
->pain level
The results point towards:
->An increase of 9.1% in 120 degree QF peak torque with the use of the
stimulated-knee extensor contrasting with a 7% loss in the education
only group.
->Timed chair rise was cut by 11% in the NMES group, while the
education only group showed a mere 7% decrease.
->Both groups exhibited a 7% faster walk time
->Pain levels in both groups remained the same despite intervention.
Researchers of this study came to the conclusion that applying the
home-based NMES treatment method may hold some promise in
enhancing quadriceps strength among adult sufferers of Osteoarthritis of
the knee, without worsening arthritic symptoms.
http://www.arthritiskneepain.co.uk, href="http://www.drpregnancy.co.uk">http://www.drpregnancy.co.uk href="http://www.herbalhealing.co.uk">http://www.herbalhealing.co.uk
A New Medieval Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis
It sounds like something out of medieval times. Using leeches to treat every disease and condition known to man. But as it turns out leeches are actually very powerful for treating a wide variety of ailments including knee osteoarthritis.Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that results in the breakdown of the cartilage between the j...
Gearing up for Outdoor Spring Activities: Managing Knee Pain
Spring is coming and with it comes increased outdoor activities, but millions of people are limited because of knee pain. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 21 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, which is characterized by a breakdown of the cartilage and a deterioration of the fluid in a joint.T...
What Are Surgery Options For Osteoarthritis Of The Knee
Conservative approaches to osteoarthritis of the knee include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, good quality forms of glucosamine and chondroitin, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, viscosupplementation (injections of lubricant into the knee), and bracing.For people who do not respond to these measures, there are more aggressive app...
Conventional Medical Treatment for Osteoarthritis
DescriptionOf the more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common, afflicting 16 million Americans. In fact, osteoarthritis is said to be the most common-and, longest historically recognized-disorder known to humankind.Osteoarthritis can affect any joint of the body, but it most commonly occurs in the fingers and weight-bearing ...
Doctor…Tell Me about Boswellia and Arthritis
Boswellia is also know as Indian frankincense, salai guggal, and boswellin. The proper botanic label for boswellia is Boswellia serrata. It is derived from the resin of the bark of the Boswellia tree. While it grows in other parts of Southeast Asia, it is found abundantly found in the Indian subcontinent.Boswellia is available in either pill or...
Arthritis Worsening and Artificial Knee Costs
For those who have knee problems and arthritis of the knee there maybe a need in the future to replace the human knee entirely? That is right an artificial knee. Why do so many people have knee problems these days?Well, consider if you will that your average American is carrying around about an extra twenty pounds of weight these days and what that...
Osteoarthritis - Identification of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in older people. It is sometimes known as degenerative joint disease because in Osteoarthritis the cartilage of the joints continues to degenerated causing pain, stiffness and swelling as bone scrapes over bone.People often have limited movement and pain but there is no redness, heat nor does it ...
