Groundbreaking Discovery in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Groundbreaking Discovery in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso have made a significant advancement in the treatment of osteoarthritis-related knee pain. Their study, published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, found that non-invasive electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve can be an effective solution.

Study Overview

  • Method: The researchers utilized transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), which involves applying electrical impulses through the ear.
  • Participants: Thirty adults with knee osteoarthritis participated in the study.
  • Procedure: Each participant received a 60-minute tVNS treatment and was instructed not to take any medication for 24 hours prior to their visit.

Key Findings

  • All participants completed the full 60-minute treatment without experiencing significant side effects.
  • More than one-third of participants exceeded the minimally clinically important threshold for improvement in symptoms related to osteoarthritis knee pain reduction compared to their baseline values before receiving tVNS.

Conclusion

According to the researchers, the improvement in symptoms may be attributed to enhanced parasympathetic function or central mechanisms, as no local intervention was applied directly to the knees during the experiment.

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