Research on Arthritis.
Last updated Tuesday, January 04, 2005
About arthritis researchHow has arthritis research progressed over the past few decades? Research over the past fifty years has brought about major advances
in finding causes as well as better ways to treat arthritis. The pace
of improvements have quickened in recent years. New findings have
helped reduce deaths, correct deformities, restore movement, and reduce
pain.
More than 200 years ago, a gout
attack kept the English statesman William Pitt from stopping the
passage of a tax on tea by Parliament. The tax led to the Boston Tea
Party and the independence of the American colonies. In the past 40
years, researchers have found ways to control the arthritis caused by
gout so that no one today need miss an important day from work.
More than 50 years ago, crutches or canes were the only way to get around once rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis
destroyed a hip or knee joint. In the past 30 years, research has
created artificial joints--spare parts for people with arthritis.
Replacing worn-out joints with artificial ones has given back freedom
of movement to thousands of people who thought they had lost it
forever.
More than 10 years ago, a mysterious new form of arthritis began
disabling children and adults along the Connecticut shoreline. In seven
years, researchers identified the cause of Lyme disease as an infection
spread by ticks and found an effective treatment with antibiotics.
Today, progress is so fast in some areas of arthritis research that
the media often report a new finding even before the medical journal
with the study reaches your doctor's office. Often this rapid transfer
of research information includes very early results that need further
study before your doctor can apply them.
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