Unproven Remedies for Arthritis.

Last updated Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Is it likely to work?

Science versus science fiction

It's important that you find out what any new treatment is supposed to do for arthritis. Scientists say a treatment works when it results in an improvement in one or more of the treatment goals for arthritis.

You can use the following tip-offs to tell the difference between reports of unproven remedies and scientific studies.

Works for all types of arthritis.

There are over 100 types of arthritis and treatments vary for each kind. Scientists test a new treatment on people with a specific type of arthritis. These people are usually similar in age, sex, race and medical history. If you hear about a treatment that works for arthritis, ask what kind of arthritis the people in the study had.

Uses case histories and testimonials

Stories about a treatment that worked for only a few people are called case histories or testimonials. They often use the person's name and picture. Sometimes, they even cite stories from a large number of people. Scientists look for a treatment to show improvement in a large number of people by repeating studies and using statistical tests. Large numbers, repeated studies and statistical tests show that the results are not due to chance or to the placebo effect. Ethical scientists also do not reveal the names of people involved in any test of a treatment.

Cites only one study

A single study may get results, which other studies cannot repeat. A single study only suggests that a treatment may have promise. Usually, a number of scientists must repeat the same study and get similar results to prove that the treatment works.

Cites a study without a control group

Scientists compare the effects of two or more treatments. One group of people gets a new treatment. They are known as the experimental group. Another group of people gets a treatment whose effects are already known or they get no treatment at all. This comparison group is called the control group. The use of control groups helps show that the results are due to the new treatment and not to some other factor.

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