Being able to measure the amount of damage being caused by osteoarthritis may seem insignificant to some.
But researchers who have identified two molecules that could give them the ability to do just that, believe their findings represent an important breakthrough.
Being able to measure the damage being caused by the condition could enable doctors to prescribe treatment that will prevent the progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis occurs when stress on the joints wear away the cartilage which prevents friction between the bones. Without the cartilage bones rub together, causing pain and doing irreversible damage.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis and is caused by the wear and tear on the body during the aging process.
Researchers say the concentration of two molecules was linked to mild cartilage damage in 30 patients who had undergone surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injury a year before they were studied.
The study involved 121 Canadian patients from 2006 to 2011, who underwent MRI and blood tests a year after reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament.
The vast differences in the disease and other factors have, previously, made it difficult for scientists to identify biomarkers, something in the body that can highlight the presence of a disease or disorder.
Researchers plan to expand the number of patients studied and examine whether the concentration of the two molecules can tell them if the cartilage damage will get worse over time.
While more work needs to be carried out, this study could lead to the development of medications that can more precisely target osteoarthritis and slow down the rate of deterioration in the joints of sufferers.
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