Research Profiles - Arthritis Research: Keeping Canadians Moving
Arthritis may not be a health issue that dominates the headlines, but it's a disease that can dominate a person's life. One in six Canadians suffers from some form of arthritis, and for many of these people, pain and reduced mobility are part of their daily existence. And the number of sufferers is on the rise: according to the Arthritis Society of Canada, by 2025 an estimated 6.4 million Canadians over the age of 15 will have arthritis.
Despite the growing prevalence of this potentially crippling illness, there is still a lot we don't know about why people develop arthritis. There are even more questions about the best way to treat it. That's why CIHR is funding a wide range of arthritis research.
In honour of Arthritis Month, we're profiling four CIHR-funded arthritis projects that aim to improve the way we prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. Dr. Christopher Riley is developing an inexpensive, easy-to-use test that could help doctors diagnose osteoarthritis before its symptoms begin. Dr. Allyson Jones is trying to determine if exercise can improve knee replacement surgery outcomes. Researchers in Ontario are looking for the root cause of arthritis pain. And a team of researchers in BC is developing a web-based program that will help newly-diagnosed arthritis patients weigh their treatment options.
