Novel Pathways Involving APC And PAR-2 In Cartilage Degradation In Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,834.00
Summary
Loss of the cartilage that normally lines the ends of bones is central to joint failure in arthritis and the need for replacement surgery. There are presently no treatments that stop cartilage breakdown in joint disease. This project investigates the role of a new pathway not previously thought to be active in cartilage, in the progressive damage seen in arthritis. Successful completion of these studies may provide a novel new strategy to treat joint disease.
ENDOGENOUS PAIN RELIEF IN HEALTHY AND OSTEOARTHRITIC PATIENTS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,926.00
Summary
Pain has a detrimental impact on ones quality of life and a significant financial impact on the community. Given this, there is a substantial effort aimed at developing pain relieving compounds. One way in which our own brain can provide complete pain relief is via a mechanism called diffuse noxious inhibitory control. We currently do not know how this mechanism works and the aim of this investigation is to explore this mechanism in healthy and osteoarthritis patients use human brain imaging.
Addressing Evidence Gaps And Developing A Novel Treatment To Reduce The Burden Of Post-traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Arthritis caused by knee injury has a devastating personal and economic impact. Research is needed to develop strategies to prevent arthritis and improve outcomes for people living with arthritis. This research will improve treatment of knee injury to reduce arthritis risk, understand why some people are more likely to get knee arthritis, and develop a new treatment to improve outcomes for people living with knee arthritis. A clinical trial will determine if this treatment achieves this aim.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) And Neuromuscular Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,248.00
Summary
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive (ACLR) following ACL rupture is a successful surgery that improves stability of the knee joint. However, evidence is emerging that despite undergoing reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is prevalent in the proceeding years. The proposed research aims to improve biomechanical abnormalities by providing a neuromuscular intervention. This could lead to a more optimal biomechanical pattern which could reduce the degenerative changes occu ....Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive (ACLR) following ACL rupture is a successful surgery that improves stability of the knee joint. However, evidence is emerging that despite undergoing reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is prevalent in the proceeding years. The proposed research aims to improve biomechanical abnormalities by providing a neuromuscular intervention. This could lead to a more optimal biomechanical pattern which could reduce the degenerative changes occurring within the knee of ACLR patients.Read moreRead less
This research program aims to utilise three new clinical trials to treat pain from osteoarthritis of the knee and hand. These treatments use existing medications, but for new indications. This project will determine if these treatments reduce pain and slow structural changes over two years of treatment. It also has the potential to develop the first treatment for osteoarthritis which changes the natural course of the disease rather than merely treating symptoms.
Does Low Dose Amitriptyline Reduce Pain In Knee Osteoarthritis? A Double Blind, Randomised, Pragmatic, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial Of Amitriptyline In Addition To Usual Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,704.00
Summary
Pain is the main problem for people with osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis. This pain is not controlled well. Pain comes from structural changes in the joint. However, after time, some people develop pain due to changes in the nervous system, called pain sensitisation. This is not affected by usual treatments. Amitriptyline is used to treat pain sensitisation. This study is a randomised trial to see whether amitriptyline, relieves pain in people with knee osteoarthritis over 3 months.
Equitable Treatment Of Severe Osteoarthritis In Australia: A Population-based Assessment Of Burden And Barriers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$317,580.00
Summary
Severe hip and knee osteoarthritis is a growing public health problem for Australia, as reflected in the rising demand for joint replacement surgery. However, while severe osteoarthritis is common, how the condition affects a person’s quality of life and ability to maintain their lifestyle is poorly understood. This project will investigate the impact of severe osteoarthritis on the lives of Australians and whether people with the condition have fair and timely access to joint replacement.
TreatOA4life (Treat OsteoArthritis4life) – A Sustainable Lifestyle Treatment To Improve Outcomes In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common cause of arthritis, was estimated to cost $3.75 billion AUD in 2012. It has no cure or effective treatment and its cost is escalating with the obesity epidemic. Education, weight management and exercise reduce pain and slow the disease process, especially used early in disease. TreatOA4life will provide this treatment in a simple easy to access form in primary care, designed to improve OA outcomes in a self-sustaining fashion from initial diagnosis.
Neuromuscular Exercise : A Novel Treatment To Reduce Symptoms And Joint Load In Medial Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$719,199.00
Summary
There is currently no cure for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thus treatments are needed that not only reduce symptoms but also slow disease progression. Exercise is recommended for knee OA but traditional thigh muscle strengthening exercises do not appear to be effective in all cases and may not slow the disease. This project will compare novel 'neuromuscular exercise' and compare it to traditional strengthening exercise. The results have the potential to alter current exercise prescription
Reducing Knee Load And Slowing Disease Progression With Conservative Interventions In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,503.00
Summary
Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for arthritis, interventions that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Recently it has been postulated that specific exercise that targets how the muscles are controlled by the nervous system may have greater disease-modifying effects than exercise aimed at strengthening the muscles. Data are beginning to highlight the co ....Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for arthritis, interventions that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Recently it has been postulated that specific exercise that targets how the muscles are controlled by the nervous system may have greater disease-modifying effects than exercise aimed at strengthening the muscles. Data are beginning to highlight the complexity of muscle strategies adopted by the nervous system to compensate for joint derangement in knee arthritis. It is our contention that there may be specific strategies that provide more optimal knee joint loading in relation to slowing disease progression. The first part of this project is to investigate knee control in people with knee arthritis and to evaluate whether this influences disease progression. This will provide the basis for refinement and optimisation of rehabilitation interventions for this patient group. The second part of this project will investigate whether strengthening the hip muscles in patients with knee arthritis influences knee load and hence disease progression. Hip muscle strengthening is currently not routinely included as part of the management of knee arthritis. If the results of this project find it to be effective, then hip muscle strengthening can be recommended for treating knee arthritis.Read moreRead less