Trainers that could spot early signs of arthritis

SPeCiAl trainers could help to spot the first signs of arthritis and delay the need for a replacement knee joint. the shoes, designed to shift the wearer’s stride to take pressure off the damaged part of the knee, have already been shown to ease the pain of arthritis.

Now, researchers at Stanford University in the U.S. are testing whether blood tests taken during six months of wearing the shoes can also detect changes in levels of inflammation, helping to diagnose the condition at an early stage.

One in five adults over the age of 45 has osteoarthritis of the knee, which occurs when the cartilage that lines and cushions the joint gradually wears away and thins, leading to inflammation.

Over time, the surrounding bone also reacts, growing thicker and sometimes forming bony spurs. the muscles that support the joint also weaken, affecting movement.

the earliest stage of osteoarthritis, where the joint cartilage thins, is usually painless and, by the time there are symptoms, the damage is done, so the only treatment is pain relief.

Physiotherapy can also help, by strengthening the muscles around the joint and taking some of the pressure off it.

However, many patients end up needing surgery to replace the joint: around 90,000 knee replacements were performed last year. research shows that most damage caused by arthritis is to the inside of the knee joint.

THe shoes look like ordinary trainers and have special soles that are nearly twice as stiff on the outside edge as on the inside. this is thought to alter the angles between the foot and the knee during walking, taking the load off the inside and shifting it to the outside, where cartilage is less damaged.

the Journal of Orthopaedic research reports that a previous Stanford study found wearing the shoes was linked to a 32 per cent reduction in pain after 12 months. the researchers also believe the trainers could help to diagnose osteoarthritis early.

the theory is that wearing the shoes while walking will reduce levels of inflammatory markers — a blood test before and after the shoes are worn will help to identify any problems. there is currently no single blood test that can identify arthritis from inflammation levels alone (as inflammatory markers could have a number of causes).

but the hope is that, by taking a reading before and after walking in the shoes, the difference between the two would indicate if there is inflammation in the knee specifically. if this is the case, the shoes could be used, along with blood tests, to help spot

and treat joint damage in people who don’t yet have symptoms.

this is important, because starting treatment with drugs to lower inflammation at the first sign of joint deterioration can slow the progression of arthritis, avoiding the need for surgery.

in a six-month trial starting this month, 50 knee arthritis patients will wear the trainers, or placebo shoes, daily and have periodic walking tests, with blood tests before and after.

Dr Stephen Simpson, director of research and programmes at Arthritis research UK, says: ‘this is an interesting trial. if the results are positive, this intervention may offer an alternative to delay, or even prevent, the need for joint replacement in the future.’

MEANWHILE, turmeric could be a new way to combat painful joints in rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body’s defence system to attack the joints.

in a one-month study, University of Arizona researchers will give 45 patients a turmeric supplement or a placebo to take twice daily.

they will then compare changes in pain symptoms and markers of inflammation in blood tests.

turmeric has been used as a traditional remedy for pain and other symptoms for years, but the mechanism is unknown.

researchers running the new trial recently found that chemicals in turmeric can block the body’s inflammatory response that leads to arthritis just as well as commonly prescribed medicines.