Tests have recently been carried out to try and work out whether different types of friction in our joints indicate if we have arthritis. The University of California concentrated on measuring how bones moved against each other in a bid to develop tests for the condition.
Diagnosing the problem
Like with some other bone problems, we may not be diagnosed with arthritis until it has already made an obvious impact on our wellness. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear in our joints and happens to many of us as we get older. Although it is a fairly common health issue, there are not many tests to catch it before it gets painful. This tends to happen when cartilage gets so thin nerves are exposed. Cartilage helps our bones move smoothly and forms a protective cap on the ends of our bones. When it’s very thin our joints can get inflamed and it is very painful when bones rub against each other.
New tests?
The researchers aimed to measure friction successfully, so GPs could then use similar techniques to test us for the condition. This means we can start treatment for arthritis before it has severely affected our wellbeing. Friction in our joints can be caused by different kinds of movement, such as smooth sliding, or ‘stick-slip’ sliding. The last kind of friction makes cartilage pads stick together for a short time, move apart, then stick together another time. It is this kind of movement that is believed to contribute to arthritis. The scientists explained that successfully monitoring our joints for this specific friction can highlight our risk for developing the condition. In the future, gadgets could be developed that can test for stick-slip sliding from outside the joint, so we wouldn’t even need invasive tests that depend on drawing blood or synovial fluid like some present diagnostic tools.
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