Arthritis - Alternative Treatments
Type II Collagen
Type two collagen is a protein derived from chicken sternum cartilage. Type II chicken collagen is un-denatured (in its natural state), as opposed to denatured or hydrolyzed collagen To date, only one manufacturer produces un-denatured Type II chicken collagen. It is said to relieve arthritis pain, inflammation, swelling and stiffness of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, JRA and gout.
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Small amounts of collagen, taken by mouth, appear to reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms by suppressing the autoimmune response. Research has shown results are very dose sensitive.
Dose Sensitive Finding
Several studies from Harvard University and Germany have shown positive effects on the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. One of the largest studies involving a multi-centered, double-blind, placebo controlled group of 274 people with Rheumatoid Arthritis tested four dosages: 20 mcg, 100 mcg, 500 mcg or 2,500 mcg (2.5 mg). Only the lowest dose demonstrated significant improvement, which included a reduction in inflammation and joint arthritis pain. High doses had no effect.
Un-denatured Type II collagen also appeared to reduce swollen and tender joints in JRA subjects in a three-month study from Harvard. Here, patients were given 100 mcg daily the first month, followed by 500 mcg for the next two. Several German studies on Rheumatoid Arthritis and un-denatured Type II collagen have also found a positive outcome.
In contrast to un-denatured type II collagen, studies at Harvard Medical School found that the use of hydrolyzed or denatured type II collagen proved ineffective in treating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Harvard researchers, denatured type II collagen has no observable effect on the incidence and severity of the disease.
Precautions:
No known drug interactions or side effects in small doses; large doses can cause nausea. Do not take if allergic to chicken or eggs. Only un-denatured Type II chicken collagen has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Denatured or collagen hydrolysate has not.
Bovine cartilage
Taken from the windpipe and trachea of cows, it's supposed to act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. A few animal and laboratory studies are promising, but there are no human studies to support claims. Researchers also think it may promote re-growth of cartilage.
Acupuncture
A review published in 2001 evaluated the results of studies of acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee. The reviewers found seven studies they rated as significant, involving a total of 393 participants. Although not all studies were positive, overall the reviewers concluded that “strong evidence” indicates that acupuncture is more effective for knee arthritis than sham acupuncture.
Benefits have been seen in other forms of osteoarthritis as well. For example, a single-blind, controlled trial of 67 people with osteoarthritis of the hip found that acupuncture significantly improved symptoms, with relief lasting for months after the end of treatment. One small study found acupuncture more effective than advice and exercises for hip arthritis pain.
Contradictory Findings on Acupuncture
However, yet another study found that insertion of needles at random spots in the general vicinity of the hip was just as effective as traditional acupuncture. Larger trials will be necessary to fully sort out acupuncture’s effectiveness for hip arthritis pain. Acupuncture for osteoarthritis in various joints as also been compared to anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, and diazepam (Valium) with mixed results.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a special form of injection therapy. Prolotherapy uses a dextrose (sugar water) solution, which is injected into the ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of three prolotherapy injections (using a 10% dextrose solution) at 2-month intervals in 68 people with osteoarthritis of the knee. At 6-month follow-up, participants who had received dextrose injections showed significant improvements in arthritis pain at rest and while walking, reduction in swelling, episodes of "buckling," and range of movement, as compared to those who had received placebo treatment. The same research group performed a similar double-blind trial of 27 individuals with osteoarthritis in the hands. The results at 6-month follow-up showed that range of motion and arthritis pain with movement improved significantly in the treated group as compared to the placebo group.
With proven capability of arthritis pain relief and the possibility of longer term relief prolotherapy appears to be a viable complementary treatment for arthritis.
Precautions:
Since intent of the technique is to create a specifically localized inflammation, arthritis pain, swelling, redness, soreness, temporary stiffness, and bruising at the injection site are normal. Often there is temporary numbness, tingling, or itching over the injection site. Piercing the skin with a needle always allows for the possibility of infection, although very few have ever been reported.
Magnet Therapy Pulsed Field vs. Static
There is strong evidence that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) is effective in an number of bone, ligament and muscle injuries and diseases. Several double-blind, placebo-controlled studies suggest that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, a special form of magnet therapy, can improve symptoms of osteoarthritis. There is some evidence that static magnets may also be of benefit.
The most widely cited study was conduct at the King's College Hospital in London.
Rheumatology Department, King's College Hospital (Dulwich), London, UK. This study worked with 69 patients. Patients were screened for radiographic evidence and symptoms of Osteoarthritis (incompletely relieved by conventional treatments). The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of six weeks' duration. The measure of effectiveness was a series of validated self reporting arthritis pain tests.
Tests at the start of the study showed that the groups were similar it their arthritis pain profiles. Analysis of the follow-up observations on each patient showed significant improvements in the actively treated group at the study's end compared to baseline. In contrast, there were no improvements in any variable in the placebo-treated group. There were no clinically relevant adverse effects attributable to active treatment. These results suggest that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is beneficial in reducing arthritis pain and disability in patients with knee Osteoarthritis resistant to conventional treatment. Further they found that there were no significant side-effects.
In another study at the Danbury Hospital in Connecticut on PEMF, this study involved 27 patients with Osteoarthritis primarily of the knee. The treatment consisted of 18 half hour treatments over a one month period. Over a range of 6 clinic variable the level of symptomatic improvement was 23 to 61% in the active treatment group and a 2 to 18% improvement in the placebo group.
The decreased arthritis pain and improved functional performance of treated patients shows that PEMF has can be an effective method of improving symptoms in patients with Osteoarthritis. There were no adverse side effects in this study as well.
While the evidence is not as widespread there has been a few studies
on the effects of static magnets on chronic knee arthritis pain and physical function.
In a study at the University of Texas using a blind, random placebo
controlled summary. Forty-three subjects with chronic knee
arthritis pain
were treated with static magnets or placebos for 2 weeks. They were
measured on self reporting arthritis pain measures and a timed walking trial.
There was a significant improvement in both the arthritis pain measurements and
the walking test, the degree of difference was greater in the arthritis
pain
measurement than the functional test.
Overall it is clear the magnetic therapy can play a role in treatment of Osteoarthritis. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, with it's wide range of research showing beneficial results can be a significant tool in the treatment of Osteoarthritis. The preliminary results suggest that the use of static magnets, may be of some benefit. Considering their ease of use and ability to be used on a long term basis, they may make a good alternative for home use.
Read on for detailed discussion of the effectiveness of Diet Elimination in the treatment of arthritis
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