WFU study investigating ways to prevent osteoarthritis in women
Wake Forest University is recruiting participants for a study to investigate ways to prevent osteoarthritis prevention in women. With this 48-month clinical study, researchers hope to determine whether the most common treatments for osteoarthritis – weight loss and exercise – also help prevent women from developing the degenerative joint disease.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and the knee is the most often affected weight-bearing joint. Osteoarthritis occurs when the tissues in the joint become inflamed and the loads on the joint are excessive, resulting in degeneration of the cartilage and surrounding tissue. The result is pain, swelling and loss of motion. The condition is the leading cause of disability among adults and is the third most common diagnosis for inpatient hospital stays, at 1.25 million per year. It affects nearly twice as many women as men, often targeting the knees.
Professor Steve Messier of the Department of Health and Exercise Science, who leads the four-year study as principal investigator, focuses on prevention and whether proven treatments can be used instead to stop the disease from occurring.
Professor Shannon Mihalko serves as the Winston-Salem site principal investigator and the coordinating behavioral psychologist, and Professor Gary Miller is the head nutritionist. Both teach in the Department of Health and Exercise Science.
Interested in Participating?
Study participants receive a 48-month healthy lifestyle program at no cost. Classes may include a combination of weight loss, healthy lifestyle, nutrition and exercise.
You may qualify to participate if you:
• Are female and at least 50 years of age
• Are overweight
• Have little to no knee pain
To learn more, please call 877-238-4825, option 6; email tops@wfu.edu; or visit the TOPS pre-screening website to see if you might qualify.
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