In this week's episode, we explore how knee osteoarthritis affects the way people walk. Experts Dr. Kathryn Bacon and Associate Professor Deepak Kumar from Boston University explain that osteoarthritis impacts everyone differently, but common changes include walking slower, taking fewer steps per minute, and experiencing more muscle activity and pressure on certain parts of the knee. Join them as they reveal findings from one of their recent major studies, in which 2,500 participants wore sensors to track their walking patterns. Interestingly, the data from the study showed that changes in walking speed, step length, and symmetry can be linked to worsening pain and knee function over time.

Importantly, we also discuss how this research can help doctors understand osteoarthritis better and develop new ways to monitor and treat it, using simple sensors to track walking patterns in everyday life.

Tune in to learn more about how osteoarthritis impacts walking and the implications for future research and treatment.

RESOURCES

Journal articles

• Gait Alterations and Association With Worsening Knee Pain and Physical Function: A Machine Learning Approach With Wearable Sensors in the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study - PubMed (nih.gov)

Website

• www.osteoarthritisclinicalresearchgroup.com.au

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Join us on this week's episode as we delve into the complexities of osteoarthritis pain with Professor Nidhi Sofat. In this episode, we explore the sources of pain in osteoarthritis, from cartilage damage to synovitis and bone marrow lesions. Professor Sofat discusses groundbreaking research on the role of nerves and blood vessels in pain, the significance of bone and synovium in joint health, and the latest findings on gene expression and inflammation. We also cover the different types of pain - nociceptive, inflammatory, nociplastic, and neuropathic - and what this means for treatment. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone affected by osteoarthritis, this episode offers valuable insights into understanding and managing this common yet complex condition.

Nidhi Sofat is a Professor of Rheumatology at St George's, University of London, where she studies what causes pain and inflammation in diseases that affect muscles and joints. Her research takes a hands-on approach, bridging the gap between lab experiments and real-world medical applications.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the future of osteoarthritis research and discover how her team's innovative approaches may pave the way for future treatments in osteoarthritis.

RESOURCES

Journal article:

• Can we achieve pain stratification in musculoskeletal conditions? Implications for clinical practice

Previous episodes:

• Why does my knee hurt with Dr. Jason McDougall
• Where does osteoarthritis pain come from ? with Prof Anne-Marie Malfait

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
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• Email: hello@jointaction.info

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Join this week’s conversation with Dr Sam Bunzli which explores how health professionals can better understand and support people with osteoarthritis by moving beyond checklists and truly listening to their stories. We'll debunk common misconceptions about osteoarthritis, such as the belief that pain always means joint damage or that imaging is always necessary and provide evidence-based corrections.

We’ll also discuss the importance of culturally safe care and share resources for improving clinician communication. Finally, we’ll look at how empowering communication and providing the right information, skills, and resources can help individuals manage their osteoarthritis effectively.

Dr Sam Bunzli is a Senior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy who holds a conjoint position between the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at Griffith University and the Physiotherapy Department at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Queensland Australia.

In her program of osteoarthritis research, Dr Bunzli engages the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, and clinicians to advance person-centred communication and inform the design and implementation of interventions that meet their needs and preferences.

Tune in for valuable insights and practical advice on living well with osteoarthritis.

RESOURCES

• The Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual
• Clinical Yarning: www.clinicalyarning.org
• Staying Strong with Osteoarthritis: www.stayingstrongwitharthritis.org.au
• Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy (JOSPT):

Broken Machines or Active Bodies?

Part 1. Ways of Talking About Health and Why It Matters

Part 2: How People Talk About Osteoarthritis and Why Clinicians Need to Change the Conversation

Part 3: Five Recommendations to Shift the Way Clinicians Communicate With People Who Are Seeking Care for Osteoarthritis

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
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Metabolism plays an important role in our day to day lives. Our metabolism changes over time as we age, with conditions such as osteoarthritis and in people who are above a healthy weight. The study of the small molecules chemicals in biological samples or the study of metabolomics is an emerging field in research. On this week's episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Ron June and Hope Welhaven to discuss the role of the metabolome in osteoarthritis.

Dr Ron June is a Professor and bioengineer based at Montana State University, USA. His research interests include osteoarthritis and biomechanics. He also recently founded a company, OpenBioWorks, seeking to provide commercial metabolomic profiling services.

Dr Hope Welhaven’s research focusses on investigating the metabolism of musculoskeletal tissues during times of health and disease, such as osteoarthritis. She uses mass spectrometry-based techniques including metabolomics and imaging to identify and examine metabolic mechanisms involved in disease progression.

RESOURCES

Journal articles

· The metabolome of individuals with knee osteoarthritis is influenced by 18-months of an exercise and weight loss intervention and sex: the IDEA trial

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
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Learn more about what happens during the history taking and physical examination components of getting your osteoarthritis diagnosed.

RESOURCES

• The Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual
• MSK Physical Examination of the Knee
• MSK Physical Examination of the Hip
• MSK Physical Examination of the Hand

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
• Email: hello@jointaction.info

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On this week's episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Dr Bryan Tan to discuss how mental health can contribute to the experience of living with osteoarthritis.

Dr Bryan Tan is an Orthopaedic Surgeon-Scientist in Singapore. He has experience practicing both locally and overseas having done several fellowships internationally including US and New Zealand. His research focuses on health service research, implementation science, population health and taking a biopsychosocial perspective in musculoskeletal health. He has a strong interest in administration, policy making and public health and applies a public health, system lens to musculoskeletal problems and currently sits on several health cluster-wide and national committees looking to deliver new models of care for musculoskeletal health.

RESOURCES

Journal articles

• CORR Insights®: What Are the Underlying Mental Health Constructs Associated With Level of Capability in People With Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis?
• A Qualitative Study of Psychosocial Factors in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: Insights Learned From an Asian Population.
• Adaptation and validation of the chronic illness-related shame scale among patients with knee osteoarthritis in Singapore.
• Discordance between self-reported and performance-based physical function in patients who have knee osteoarthritis: Associations with pain intensity and negative affect.
• A cross sectional study exploring the relationship of self-reported physical activity with function, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and quality of life in an Asian population seeking care for knee osteoarthritis.
• Singapore KneE osTeoarthritis CoHort (SKETCH): protocol for a multi-centre prospective cohort study.
• Complex Lifestyle and Psychological Intervention in Knee Osteoarthritis: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
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• Email: hello@jointaction.info

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On this week's episode of Joint Action, we delve into the world of osteoarthritis management through the lens of mobile applications. Professor James Bilzon joins us to discuss how mobile apps are transforming osteoarthritis care, including the features, benefits and future potential of these innovative tools to empower individuals to take control of their osteoarthritis journey. James is a professor of Human and Applied Physiology with specific expertise in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Bath, UK.

RESOURCES

Journal articles

• Influence of the intelligent knee osteoarthritis lifestyle app (iKOALA) on knee joint pain
• Development of the intelligent knee osteoarthritis lifestyle app: a person-based approach

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
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• Email: hello@jointaction.info
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On today’s episode of Joint Action, we are joined by Dr James Linklater OAM to discuss the use and misuse of imaging in the context of knee osteoarthritis. James is a radiologist and CEO of Castlereagh Imaging. He has particular skills in all aspects of musculoskeletal imaging and intervention and has ongoing research interests in imaging osteoarthritis and imaging of ACL reconstructions.

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• Twitter/X: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Instagram: @ProfDavidHunter
• Email: hello@jointaction.info
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

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