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Space station motors make a robotic prosthetic leg more comfortable, extend battery life

Researchers developed a new robotic prosthetic leg that consumes half the battery power of state-of-art robotic legs while producing more force. The streamlined design features regenerative braking, which charges the battery with energy captured when the foot hits the ground, enabling users to walk for over twice as long on one charge.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalIEEE Transactions on Robotics·DateJul 15, 2020

Total-body PET/CT captures full picture of systemic inflammatory arthritis

The uEXPLORER TB-PET/CT scanner offers a new imaging option for inflammatory arthritis by capturing glucose metabolism in normal and diseased joint tissues across the body. This allows for quantifying systemic inflammatory burden, which could have direct implications for disease staging, treatment selection, and monitoring of treatment...

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJul 11, 2020

The injury rate of dominant leg of soccer players is identical with the non-dominant one

A recent study published in Sports Medicine - Open reveals that professional soccer players experience asymptomatic cartilage and meniscus damages in their knee joints, regardless of age or career duration. The dominant leg's condition is identical to the non-dominant one, with certain tissue changes more common in experienced athletes.

SourceSechenov University·JournalSports Medicine - Open·DateJun 22, 2020

Nationwide study shows disparities in outpatient care for common orthopaedic problems

A nationwide study found that racial/ethnic minorities and individuals with lower incomes are less likely to receive office-based care for musculoskeletal conditions, while those with public insurance status are more likely to use emergency department care. This disparity contributes significantly to healthcare expenditures.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateMar 9, 2020

Bundled payments have not led to 'cherry-picking' of patients for joint replacement surgery

Researchers evaluated patient characteristics after introduction of bundled payment program, finding no significant changes in access to hip and knee replacement for sicker patients or those at higher risk of complications. The study provides reassurance that the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement program has not led to 'cherry-p...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateFeb 20, 2020

Physiotherapy 'postcode lottery' uncovered

Research reveals disparities in physiotherapy provision across England, with patients in London and the North receiving more, while those in the South West receive less. Factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity impact access to physiotherapy, highlighting a need for parity in service provision.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPhysiotherapy·DateNov 27, 2019

Novel formulation of an injectable drug to treat joint inflammation acts for ten days

Researchers developed an injectable drug formulation using lipid nanoparticles to sustain the effect of naproxen in treating temporomandibular joint inflammation. The study showed significant reduction in inflammation and absence of side effects, making it a potential treatment option for this condition.

Step forward in falling research

University of Queensland researchers studied human responses to unexpected changes in environment, like falling into a hole. They found that humans use different strategies to stabilize themselves based on the drop height and utilized distal lower-limb joints such as the ankle for energy absorption at low drop heights.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalInterface·DateOct 1, 2019

How chikungunya virus may cause chronic joint pain

Researchers developed a reporter system to permanently mark cells infected with chikungunya virus, revealing that marked cells containing most of the persistent RNA can survive for at least 112 days. Treatment with an antibody reduces the number of marked cells in muscle and skin.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateAug 29, 2019

A single measurement may help determine kneecap instability risk

Researchers found that measuring the distance between the tibial tubercle and trochlear groove using MRI can accurately predict knee instability. A TT-TG distance of 13 mm is identified as a guideline for identifying patients at risk, with further study planned to explore contributing factors.

SourcePenn State·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateJul 17, 2019

Hormone produced during pregnancy repurposed to treat painful joint condition

Researchers repurpose pregnancy hormone relaxin to alleviate symptoms of arthrofibrosis, a painful and debilitating joint condition, restoring range of motion and improving tissue health in an animal model. The findings suggest that relaxin could offer relief for millions of people affected by the disease.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 3, 2019

Space travel and your joints

A recent study found early signs of cartilage breakdown in mice exposed to microgravity for 30 days. The researchers theorize that the lack of gravity's biomechanical forces leads to joint unloading, causing cartilage degradation. This could have significant implications for future astronauts on long-term space missions.

Low income is a risk factor for 'catastrophic' amputation after knee joint replacement

A study published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research found that low-income patients are at higher risk of above-knee amputation after periprosthetic joint infection. The researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative hospital database and found that patients living in areas with lower incomes were 58% more likely...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateApr 30, 2019