Bones & Joint PainJanuary 2010 your guide to Canada’s biggest ChroniC disease: MusCuloskeletal disorder

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2 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt

bones & joint Pain

AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 3

Moreover, when bones are se-

verely weakened by osteopo-

rosis, even simple movements

such as bending over to pick up a bag of

groceries and in some cases, sneezing or

coughing, can cause them to break. Osteo-

porosis has been called “the silent thief”

because one can be losing bone mass

without knowing it, even for a number of

years. there are no symptoms of osteopo-

rosis until you have a painful fracture—

most often of the spine, wrist or hip. Wrist

fractures are the most common, especially

in women under 75; spinal fractures often

go undetected; and hip fractures are the

most devastating, resulting in death in

about 20 per cent of cases. At least 40 per

cent of women older than 50 will suffer a

fracture in their lifetime.

if there are no symptoms, how do you

know if you are at risk for osteoporosis?

take a look at your risk factors. Some of

the major ones include:

• Being over 65

• A family history of a fragility or low-

trauma fracture (that’s a fracture that

happens as a result of a fall from stand-

ing height or less)

• Having a low-trauma fracture yourself

• taking glucocorticoid pills such as pred-

nisone continuously for three months

or more

• Having a medical condition (such as

celiac disease or Crohn’s disease) that

inhibits absorption of nutrients.

if you are over 50 and have one or more

of these risk factors, talk to your doctor

about having a bone mineral density

(BMd) test. this test is painless and non-

invasive, and the most accurate way to

determine your bone health.

Are there ways of reducing your risk of

osteoporosis? Yes—there are many ways

to help keep your bones healthy and give

you a long, active life:

• Make sure that you are getting ad-

equate calcium and vitamin d

• Limit coffee, cola beverages and some

energy drinks to no more than four

cups per day

• Limit alcoholic beverages to two a day

• if you smoke, ask your doctor about

how you can quit

• Make physical activity a part of your

daily routine, especially weight-bearing

exercises like walking or dancing

And if you are diagnosed with osteo-

porosis, there are several medications

available to treat the disease. Lifestyle

considerations, especially with respect to

the prevention of falls and the fractures

they cause, are also important.

Tips on fall prevention

• Clear your home of anything that may

cause a fall (i.e. scatter rugs, protruding

furniture).

• Wear low-heeled shoes for better

support.

• Watch for uneven ground, sidewalks

and floors.

• Keep stairs in good repair, with hand-

rails on both sides, free of clutter and

well lit.

• Studies suggest that certain medica-

tions may have side effects that can

increase the risk of falling (i.e. dizziness,

drowsiness). if you are on a combination

of medications with such side effects, it

is recommended that you speak with

your doctor and pharmacist.

• Wear ice grips on the soles of your

boots and remove them when entering

a store or mall as they can be slippery

on indoor surfaces.

• put an ice pick on your cane.

• Stay physically active. Muscle strength-

ening, balance training and walking are

effective in reducing falls.

the best defence against osteoporosis

is to build strong bones in childhood and

adolescence. Young women and young

men attain their peak bone mass at the

ages of 16 and 20, respectively, and thus

it’s crucial to maintain a bone-healthy diet

in our early years to prepare ourselves for

the bone deterioration that occurs later in

life. exercise and good nutrition (including

recommended amounts of calcium and vi-

tamin d) in youth are like a retirement plan

for your bones, so don’t turn your back on

osteoporosis. take measures to help you

and your family stay strong.

Osteoporosis Canada is the only na-

tional Canadian charity dedicated to

serving those living with or at risk of

osteoporosis. For more information or to

make a donation, visit our website at www.

osteoporosis.ca or call 1-800-463-6842.

CONTENTS 2 Let’sStartTalkingAboutArthritis

2 My206What…?

2 Don’tTurnYourBackOn

Osteoporosis!

3 ExtinguishTheFireOfRheumatoid

Arthritis

3 PutPatientsFirst

3 JointReplacementSurgeriesOn

TheRise

4 OsteoarthritisAndYou

5 ResearchersLeadingTheWay

AgainstChildhoodArthritis

6 SportsInjuriesFromASports

MedicinePerspective

6 Osteoarthritis

7 InnovativeTechnologiesInBoneAnd

JointBiomedicalEngineering

7 OrthopaedicResearchIsOnThe

Move

7 NutritionForHealthyBones&Joints

7 ForSeniors

BONESANDJOINTPAIN

Publisher: Darshan Thomas darshan.thomas@mediaplanet.com 1 416 977 7100 x 112

Contributors: Laura Mann Angelique Berg Steven McNair Dr. James P. Waddell Sue Hunter Dr. Mike Lumbers Stacey Johnson Osteoporosis Canada

Designer: Carrie Reagh carrie.reagh@mediaplanet.com

Photos: ©iStockphoto.com

For more information about supplements in the daily press, please contact: Gustav Aspegren, 1 416 977 7100 gustav.aspegren@mediaplanet.com

This section was written by Mediaplanet and did not involve National Post or Editorial Departments.

www.mediaplanet.com

There are many misconceptions

about arthritis. Until we set the

record straight by debunking

these common myths and raising aware-

ness of the devastating impact of arthritis

on our society, there won’t be a perceived

need to address one of the major health

challenges facing us.

Here are the hard facts about arthritis:

Arthritis is not just a disease of the

elderly. Arthritis does not discriminate

against age, physical condition or ethnic

background. Sixty per cent of Canadians

living with arthritis are under the age of

65. that means most people with this

disease face 20 to 40 years of struggling

with it. perhaps most surprisingly, one

out of every 1,000 children under 16 has

juvenile arthritis, a chronic disease that

severely impacts a child’s quality of life

and may cause disability.

Arthritis is not a single disease. in

fact, there are more than 100 types of

arthritis affecting more than four million

Canadians. Arthritis can be divided into

two main categories: inflammatory and

degenerative.

inflammatory arthritis is an autoim-

mune disorder where an individual’s im-

mune system “attacks” tissue in the lining

of the joints, causing inflammation, swell-

ing and pain. inflammatory arthritis af-

fects about 1 million Canadians; common

inflammatory types of arthritis include

rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis,

ankylosing spondylitis, gout, psoriatic

arthritis and lupus.

degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis,

is the most common type of this disease,

affecting over 3 million Canadians. it

occurs when cartilage (the tough elastic

material that covers and protects the

ends of bones) begins to wear away,

eventually resulting in pain, stiffness,

swelling and bone-on-bone movement

in the effected joint.

Because there are so many types of

arthritis, the causes of each disease are

often unknown. this poses a challenge

when it comes to treating the symptoms

of, and finding cures for, these debilitating

conditions.

Arthritis is not just aches and pains.

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of

disability in Canada. the symptoms and

severity of the disease vary from person

to person and their disease type. Some

people with arthritis find their pain so in-

tense that they can barely get out of bed

or turn a door knob. if not diagnosed early

and aggressively treated, inflammatory

types of arthritis may cause permanent

joint damage and lead to disability.

Arthritis is very costly. Arthritis costs

more than $4.4 billion annually in health-

care expenses, with long-term disability

accounting for almost 80 per cent of

this total. Compared to those with other

chronic diseases, people with arthritis ex-

perience both more pain and contact with

health-care professionals. they report

twice as many disability days. Arthritis is

the cause of over 80 per cent of hip and

90 per cent of knee replacement surgeries

in Canada.

While the prevalence of arthritis is al-

ready too high, it’s predicted to get much

worse. By 2030, approximately 7 million,

or one in five Canadian adults, will be bat-

tling arthritis. Without a corresponding in-

crease in how much we invest in arthritis

research, our understanding of the under-

lying causes of the disease, and therefore

improved treatments and ultimate cures,

will remain beyond reach.

to put the problem in perspective: the

Canadian institutes of Health Research

spent only $19 million on arthritis-related

research in 2005-06—that works out to

about $4.30 for every Canadian with ar-

thritis. this investment is significantly less

than most other chronic diseases.

the fight against arthritis is strictly a

resource-based problem. it’s not beyond

our capacity to unlock the mysteries of

this terrible disease. When researchers

are provided with the necessary funding,

tremendous results are achieved.

Since its founding in 1948, the Arthritis

Society has served as a primary source of

funding for major developments in arthri-

tis care by investing more than $165 mil-

lion in innovative research and the career

development of rheumatologists. Some of

the most notable discoveries in this field

have originated in Canada. For example,

Canadian scientists have identified ge-

netic markers responsible for some forms

of arthritis that could lead to a method of

preventing the onset of this disease. As

well, a way to grow human cartilage in

the lab has been found. this development

holds out the promise of repairing joints

naturally rather than with the metal and

plastic replacements used in joint replace-

ment surgery.

With continued support, more break-

throughs are around the corner. Before

that can happen, we have to sit up and

take notice. Awareness of the toll arthri-

tis takes on us all continues to be our

single biggest challenge. Let the national

conversation begin. to learn more, visit

www.arthritis.ca.

Let’s Start Talking About ArthritisChances are you, a member of your family, a friend or a neighbour lives with the intense pain and disability caused by arthritis. Yet even though this chronic disease affects one in six adult Canadians, it goes largely unnoticed by the public.

BY: SteveN MCNAiR, pReSideNt ANd CeO OF tHe ARtHRitiS SOCietY

BY: ANgeLiqUe BeRg, pReSideNt & CeO CANAdiAN ORtHOpediC FOUNdAtiON

Like Joan, many Baby Boomers

are preparing for the retirement

they’ve pictured, and the Cana-

dian Orthopaedic Foundation hopes that

they’ve invested in their bone and joint

health, along with their RRSps.

“With tens of thousands requiring

orthopaedic surgery each year, our

education challenge is two-fold,” says dr.

Stewart Wright, toronto-based orthopae-

dic surgeon and chair of the Foundation’s

Medical & Scientific Review Committee.

“there is an immediate need to educate

patients toward their fullest recovery, and

longer-term, to educate the public on

prevention.”

the Canadian Orthopaedic Founda-

tion’s resources help patients play a

greater role in their health care. their

patient guidebook helps patients map

their way from family physician referral

through surgery and rehabilitation, and

includes questions to ask the surgeon, a

diary of progress and potential complica-

tions to watch for – things unknown until

surgery is needed. the Foundation’s free

peer support program, Ortho Connect,

connects new patients with trained vet-

eran patients for a real-world view of what

to expect.

the impact of shared experience is

something Ortho Connect volunteers like

Joan Cunnington see first-hand. “i share

my persistence with physiotherapy, which

helped me return to playing tennis. While

everyone will have different results, com-

mon to everyone is the hard work ahead.

patients have to play an active role to

capitalize on the surgeon’s skills.”

While major hospitals may have the

resources to offer comprehensive patient

support, not all communities are created

equal. “the Foundation’s resources are

nationally available to help all patients to

be active participants in their health care,

regardless of where they live,” says dr.

Wright. “decreasing the number of future

patients is equally important. Wait time

reduction efforts have spurred progress

toward bone and joint disorders being

seen as critical as cancer or cardiovascular

issues, but we still have a long way to go.”

Bone and joint disorders affect over

15 per cent of Canadians, outpacing our

aging population. As the most costly dis-

ease group in Canada, estimated at $18

billion per year, it’s known in the research

world what disproportionate invest-

ments – less than 2 per cent of all health

research funding – are made to research

in bone and joint health or disorders. At a

personal level, the costs of these disorders

are devastating in their advanced stages,

resulting in chronic pain, immobility, and

the inability to work and even live inde-

pendently, hitting people in or near their

retirement years.

demand for orthopaedic surgery is

skyrocketing. in 2005-2006, there were

nearly 70,000 hip and knee replacements

in Canada, a 10-year increase of 101 per

cent. these figures don’t include all the

other operations that orthopaedic sur-

geons regularly perform to treat such

conditions as complex fractures, sports in-

juries, chronic back pain and much more.

Because of a variety of factors including

an aging workforce, the number of or-

thopaedic surgeons practising in Canada

hasn’t kept pace with patient demand. the

Canadian Orthopaedic Association, which

represents practising surgeons, is looking

at strategies for recruiting students into

medicine and, ultimately, into orthopae-

dics; retaining newly trained surgeons

in Canada; and extending the careers of

surgeons on the edge of retirement.

there’s no quick fix to supply shortages,

which means many patients may wait

even longer for surgery. And a backlog at

the “treatment of last resort” encourages a

look at how to better maximize treatment

options earlier in the care path. Access to

them is sometimes a challenge, limited

by awareness, ability to pay for them, or

inconsistency in availability nationally. A

better job likely can be done of appro-

priately promoting and using existing

and new pharmacologic and biologic

medicines, physical therapy and exercise,

and disease self-management strate-

gies among others to address pain and

disability.

At the other end of the spectrum,

prevention education is a key solution to

reducing the number of future patients.

Market research commissioned by the

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation re-

veals that next to cancer, Canadians are

more concerned about back and joint

pain than they are about any other health

issue. despite these concerns, 78 per cent

see no need to even start worrying about

bone and joint health until they are adults.

“Not enough Canadians are aware of

how the risks of bone and joint disease

increase due to obesity, lack of exercise,

poor nutrition, and seemingly routine in-

juries,” says dr. Wright. “But before we can

educate the public, we need the research

to develop the education, and to drive

research funding, we need to elevate the

importance of this area of healthcare.”

Signs indicate that bone and joint

disorders are beginning to demand the

attention needed to enable Canadians to

live and move longer and stronger. With

206 bones in our bodies and the impor-

tant role they play throughout our lives,

it’s about time.

Ask someone to describe their retirement vision, and they’re likely to describe doing more of what they love—travel, golf, gardening, and if they’re like college teacher Joan Cunnington, playing tennis. “i played tennis all my life and i didn’t expect that to change anytime soon.” But change it did, at least for a year or two, when an arthritic knee necessitated a replacement.

Osteoporosis is more common than you might think. One in four Canadian women over 50, and at least one in eight Canadian men over 50, have osteoporosis. that’s almost two million Canadians who are dealing with a disease that can have serious consequences: bones that break too easily, leading to chronic pain, impaired mobility and a loss of independence.

BY: OSteOpOROSiS CANAdA

My 206 What …? awareness and education Key to Life-Long Mobility

there are no symptoms of

osteoporosis until you have a

painful fracture—most often of the spine, wrist or hip.

Steven McNair

Angelique Berg

Don’t Turn Your Back On Osteoporosis!

2 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 3

bones & joint Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflam-

matory type of arthritis that

develops when an individual’s

own immune system attacks tissue in the

lining of the joints causing severe pain

and inflammation.

Catherine’s pain was excruciating. “it

would take me two hours to get ready for

work in the morning,” she recalls. “i could

barely grasp a comb to brush my hair. it felt

like i was i was moving barefoot across a

sea of knives when i made my way down

the stairs. By the time i arrived at work, i had

little energy left for the rest of the day. try-

ing to fight against pain is so exhausting.”

Rheumatoid arthritis affects approxi-

mately 300,000 Canadians. RA can have

a devastating impact on a person’s qual-

ity of life and result in permanent joint

damage. “Rheumatoid arthritis is like a

kitchen fire: you want to put it out as

quickly as possible before it burns down

the house,” explains dr. Andy thompson,

a rheumatologist and assistant professor

of medicine at the University of Western

Ontario. “putting out a fire requires that

you spot it before it spreads. With RA, an

early diagnosis and aggressive treatment

program can avoid irreversible joint dam-

age and potential disability.”

Catherine credits her ‘biologic’ medica-

tion and the Arthritis Society’s Arthritis

Self-Management program for changing

her life. this six-week program teaches

participants how to take a greater role in

controlling the impact of their arthritis.

“there are many steps i take that help me

get through most days largely pain-free,”

she says. “i make sure that i’m active. And i

stay in close contact with my doctors and

physiotherapists. Managing arthritis takes

a determined effort, but it can be done

and the payoff makes it worthwhile.”

to learn more about RA or services

available to people with arthritis, call the

Arthritis Society’s information Line at

1.800.321.1433 or visit www.arthritis.ca

Go to bayshore.ca to start enjoying the benefi ts of myNurse today – you may even win a relaxing trip for two to the Caribbean.

myNurse is brought to you by Bayshore Home Health, Canada’s largest provider of home and community health services.

Through the myNurse program, you now can arrange for regular monthly or quarterly home visits by a nurse. Friendly, relaxed visits where your nurse will be able to provide regular health assessments, monitoring and education.

It’s comfortable and convenient. Especially for elderly parents, as well as people of all ages who require special attention for their health – or who have diffi culty getting to their doctor. Most importantly, myNurse provides families with peace-of-mind – knowing the health of their loved one is being looked after. Getting started is easy. Simply call 1-877-289-3997.

Your health beginsat home

Your personal nurse can provide you with services such as:

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AA1.800.321.1433 www.jointsinmotion.ca

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Real-world insight from real-world patients.To learn more or to jump right in

Call 1-800-461-3639 orVisit www.orthoconnect.org

We connect Canadians with the information and support they need to build,keep and restore their bone and joint health for a lifetime of movement.

Need one reason to give?We’ll give you 206 – your bones, and the joints that connect them.

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BY: dR. MiKe LUMBeRS, pHd tHe ARtHRitiS SOCietY

Extinguish The Fire Of Rheumatoid ArthritisBefore being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the age of 36, Catherine Hofstetter was a successful entrepreneur, sharing a happy life with her family and making future plans. Within weeks of her diagnosis, her life started to fall apart.

Furthermore, arthritis and related

conditions are currently at the very

top of Canada’s health care burden,

but only 1 per cent of medical research

funding is dedicated to this area.

“Faced with this situation, Abbott Can-

ada is looking to close the gap in patient

care by supporting, through unrestricted

grants, patient associations, fellowship

programs and studentships,” explains Jeff

devlin, president and general manager of

Abbott international, the pharmaceutical

division of Abbott Canada. there is an ur-

gent need for health care partners to work

together to find practical solutions for

enhanced patient diagnosis and disease

awareness. it is our responsibility to play

a leading role in key initiatives that have a

positive impact on patients.”

Since its inception in 2006, CiORA (Cana-

dian initiative for Outcomes in Rheumatol-

ogy Care) a grant program created by Ab-

bott Canada has already funded close to 20

projects in three key areas: earlier referral

to a rheumatologist, multidisciplinary care

for diagnosed patients and general aware-

ness of inflammatory arthritis.

For the second consecutive year, Ab-

bott will be the presenting Sponsor of the

power of Movement™ Yoga Challenge to

Beat Arthritis created by the Arthritis &

Autoimmunity Research Centre Founda-

tion. the event, which will be taking place

across the country on Sunday, March 7th,

raises money for critical arthritis research

in Canada. www.powerofmovement.com

“Abbott is committed to rheuma-

tologists in this country and since actions

speak louder than words, we are proud

to support and fund leading initiatives

that not only raise awareness but also

raise much needed research dollars,”

adds Mr. devlin.

Put Patients FirstCurrent statistics show that more than 4.5 million Cana-dians live with a form of arthritis or autoimmune disease, but there are only 300 rheumatologists available to these patients, which translates into a six to eight-month wait time for an appointment.

there are no symptoms of

osteoporosis until you have a

painful fracture—most often of the spine, wrist or hip.

According to the Canadian Joint

Replacement Registry data sup-

plied by the Canadian institutes

for Health information, the number of hip

and knee replacements in Canada have vir-

tually doubled from approximately 30,000

procedures in 1996-1997 to approximately

62,000 procedures in 2006-2007.

in addition to the increase in absolute

numbers, the average age of a patient re-

ceiving hip and knee replacement surgery

has declined slightly as younger patients

become eligible for joint replacement

surgery. the introduction of more durable

bearing materials, improved surgical tech-

nique and changes in implant design have

all contributed to a new confidence in hip

and knee replacement surgery among

younger patients and their physicians.

the exponential demand for hip and

knee replacement surgery has led to in-

creasing wait times for these procedures

and numerous strategies to decrease wait

times have been introduced in a number

of provinces. Bone and Joint Canada, a na-

tional organization representing care pro-

viders, government, hospital administra-

tors and patient advocates has developed

a national strategy to improve access to

care by developing educational materials

for patients and hospital personnel, im-

proving the efficiency of care delivery and

promoting effective pre-operative and

post-operative care to minimize patient

disability.

Hip and knee replacement surgery is a

world-wide success story for the treatment

of patients with severe hip and knee ar-

thritis. demand for this treatment will con-

tinue to grow for the foreseeable future

although some preventive measures may

slow the rate of growth over time. Bone

and Joint Canada is dedicated to improv-

ing access to care for patients with hip and

knee arthritis and ensuring the care they

receive is timely and of the highest quality.

BY: dR. JAMeS p. WAddeLL, Md, FRCSC

Joint Replacement Surgeries On The RiseHip and knee replacement surgery is increasingly common in Canada as the benefits of this procedure become better known to patients suffering from hip and knee arthritis.

4 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt

bones & joint Pain

AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 5

It occurs when cartilage, the material in

a joint that cushions the ends of bones,

breaks down. it’s estimated that 85

per cent of Canadians will be affected by

osteoarthritis by age 70. this condition is

a major cause of falls in the elderly, and it

can lead to loss of mobility and joint pain.

Osteoarthritis most often affects weight-

bearing joints such as the feet, knees, hips

or spine, but it can also affect the hands,

fi ngers or shoulders. there is no cure for

osteoarthritis and treatments usually work

to lessen pain and discomfort. Surprisingly,

people can have damaged joints from the

disease and experience no symptoms at all.

When symptoms are felt, they include

pain in or around a joint, stiffness or trouble

moving the joint or swelling in the area.

Osteoarthritis can be caused by repeated

overuse of, or previous injury to, a joint.

it can also result from the strain of carry-

ing excess weight. A recent study found

evidence that extra weight was a factor

in over 80 per cent of knee replacement

surgeries. Weakened muscles resulting

from inactivity may also put more stress on

joints and contribute to the development

of osteoarthritis.

Once osteoarthritis has developed,

and if a person has symptoms that are

interfering with daily activities, there are

several ways it can be treated. taking off

weight and strengthening muscles can

help, and over-the-counter drugs, such as

acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or stronger

prescription drugs can lessen the pain

and infl ammation. However, regular use

of these may cause problems such as side

effects or interactions with other drugs. if

drugs don’t work, steroid injections into

the joint can provide short-term relief.

Another option, specifi cally for osteo-

arthritis of the knee, is called viscosupple-

mentation. it involves injecting a thick fl uid

into the joint. in normal joints, cartilage acts

as a shock absorber and synovial fl uid “oils”

the joints. in people with osteoarthritis, the

cartilage has broken down and their joint

fluid has become thinner. viscosupple-

mentation can help lubricate damaged

joints. “viscosupplementation can be very

helpful,” says dr. Wayne Marshall, assistant

professor of surgery at the University of

toronto. “if it works, it tends to work for

relatively long periods of time, typically at

least six months, often times a number of

years.” Studies show that up to 70 per cent

of patients with knee osteoarthritis could

see a benefi t from this procedure.

A much riskier and more invasive

option is joint replacement surgery. in

cases where pain and damage is extreme,

this surgery can cure the problem, but,

like any operation, it comes with risks of

serious complications.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects

different people in different ways. One in

10 Canadians have it, and many more of us

will experience it as we age. there are vari-

ous treatments to consider, and patients

need a treatment plan tailored to their

experience of the disease. the good news

is there are lots of options.

joint injury, joint pain and osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis And You BY: LAURA MANN

Chances are you know someone with osteoarthritis. they may not even know they have it. Arthritis is the term used for over 100 diseases and conditions that involve infl am-mation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the one most often seen in seniors.

osteoarthritis is a condition that affects different people in different ways. one in 10 Canadians have it, and

many more of us will experience it as we age. there are various treatments to consider, and patients need a

treatment plan tailored to their experience of the disease.

4 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 5

bones & joint Pain

“I used to like to ride horses,” recalls

Jessica, “but it was getting too

hard with the arthritis. i couldn’t

hold on to the horse for the jumps. if i

didn’t have my arthritis i would be able to

keep horseback riding.”

pain that causes a child to miss school

or give up on a favourite activity is only

one of the symptoms that affect children

with Juvenile Arthritis. Katelyn (last name

withheld at the request of the family) of

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was so embar-

rassed by her condition she would avoid

participating in gym class.

“Sometimes i forgot to bring my gym

shorts and t-shirt to school because i

didn’t want anyone to make fun of my

knees,” says Katelyn.

the cause, or causes, of Juvenile Arthritis

remain unknown. But ground-breaking

work in Canada is seeking answers.

Research in Juvenile Arthritis

in 2006, the Canadian Arthritis Network

(www.arthritisnetwork.ca), the Arthritis

Society (www.arthritis.ca), the Canadian

institutes of Health Research’s (www.cihr-

irsc.gc.ca) institute of Musculoskeletal

Health and Arthritis (iMHA) and infection

and immunity (iii) and other funders

awarded nearly $1.7 million over five

years to dr. Alan Rosenberg (University of

Saskatchewan) and his large team of ac-

complished researchers to study Juvenile

Arthritis and improve the lives of young

arthritis sufferers and their families.

dr. Rosenberg’s group has been test-

ing three questions as it studies how the

interaction of genes, environment and

lifestyle early in the disease process can

help predict Juvenile Arthritis outcomes

such as joint damage and diminished

quality of life.

Here is what the group is studying:

• does stress make arthritis worse by af-

fecting levels of infl ammatory proteins?

• do infections worsen arthritis out-

comes?

• How do nutrition, physical activity, sun

exposure, exposure to tobacco smoke,

physical trauma and genetic factors

infl uence arthritis activity and damage

to the bone and cartilage in the joints?

A new national paediatric rheumatol-

ogy alliance (CApRi: Canadian Alliance of

pediatric Rheumatology investigators, led

by dr. Rae Yeung at the Hospital for Sick

Children) has formed as a result of the col-

laboration between so many experts on

Rosenberg’s team hailing from different

institutions across the country. in an en-

vironment where sharing fi ndings is not

the norm, CApRi is taking a leadership role

that is expected to benefi t children with

arthritis in Canada and around the world.

the team has already collected a

substantial amount of data that are now

being analyzed and are expected to have

implications for future public health policy

planning.

According to dr. Rosenberg: “Results

from this study should help guide more

rationally-conceived, safer and more cost-

effective treatment and prevention strate-

gies to improve outcomes in children. A

new national guideline on physical activ-

ity and nutrition for managing Juvenile

Arthritis in Canada is an important goal of

our work.”

Treatment of Juvenile Arthritis

A number of medications are used

to treat Juvenile Arthritis. they in-

clude non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs (NSAids), such as ibuprofen and

naproxen, steroid therapy, particularly by

injecting the steroid into affected joints,

disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

(dMARds) and biologics. they range in

effectiveness, severity of side effects and

cost. Because every child is different and

the severity of his/her disease will differ,

a treatment program will be designed

by the child’s doctor. to be fully effective,

medication must always be taken regu-

larly and exactly as prescribed.

“these children have concerns that

fall outside the normal routine of their

peers: regular visits to a rheumatologist or

physiotherapist; a demanding treatment

program; and, a rigorous medication regi-

men,” says dr. Brian Feldman, head of the

division of paediatric Rheumatology at

the Hospital for Sick Children in toronto

“No child should have to go through that.”

if Canadian researchers have their way,

no child will have to go through that

ever again.

Researchers Leading The Way Against Childhood ArthritisJessica gambriel of London, Ontario, was four when she was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis. Her story is not unusual. She is like one out of every 1,000 Canadian babies, toddlers and children (up to the age of 16) strick-en with a painful form of infl ammatory joint disease. Juvenile Arthritis is one of the most common, chron-ic, disabling conditions of childhood and signifi cantly impacts a child’s quality of life.

BY: StACeY JOHNSONdiReCtOR COMMUNiCAtiONS, CANAdiAN ARtHRitiS NetWORK

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6 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt

bones & joint Pain

AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 7

“One size definitely doesn’t fit

all [in osteoarthritis],” says

dr. philip Baer, a long-time

rheumatologist and vice president of the

Ontario Rheumatology Association. “You

have a menu of [treatment] options.”

dr. Baer explains that the main reason

osteoarthritis treatments must be tai-

lored to the individual is that patients

are often dealing with side effects from

medications. there’s no cure for osteoar-

thritis except risky and invasive joint re-

placement surgery, so many treatments

involve drugs that help in managing pain

and improving mobility and quality of

life. Since many osteoarthritis sufferers

are elderly, they often have other condi-

tions such as heart disease, blood pres-

sure or diabetes. Over-the-counter pain

relievers like acetaminophen, aspirin or

ibuprofen can cause serious side effects

in people with multiple conditions or

people taking other medications. Acet-

aminophen can cause upset stomach,

and long-term use has been linked to

impairment of kidney function, increases

in blood pressure and an increased risk

of asthma. the drug can also interfere

with blood thinners (often taken after a

heart attack or stroke), or blood clotting

or bleeding time. in people with pre-

existing liver diseases like hepatitis or

cirrhosis, it can also cause liver problems.

Aspirin has to be taken at high doses to

work, and it can have side effects similar

to those seen with ibuprofen and other

anti-inflammatory drugs. these drugs

can cause ulcers, bleeding in the gastro-

intestinal tract, upset stomach, constipa-

tion, heartburn or even kidney or heart

failure. While many people don’t experi-

ence side effects like these, older people

are more likely to have trouble. doctors

can switch patients to other drugs until

they find the combination that works, or

they can treat the side effects with other

drugs, but these may, in turn, cause differ-

ent side effects.

there are several ways to improve

pain from osteoarthritis that eliminate

or minimize side effects. Losing weight

and strengthening the muscles around

the effected joint can help, as can eating

a healthy diet rich in calcium, vitamin d

and omega-3 fats. pain-relieving topical

treatments can be rubbed on the ef-

fected joint to deliver anti-inflammatory

drugs only where needed, minimizing

side effects. “the blood level [of the drug]

is incredibly low compared to taking an

oral tablet, so you don’t get the same

problems.” dr. Baer says about the topi-

cal options. Currently the only topical op-

tion available by prescription in Canada

(pennsaid) is prescribed for osteoarthritis

of the knee. injections directly into the

joint can also be an option to avoid side

effects in other systems in the body.

even though there are many side

effects that can occur in the treatment of

osteoarthritis, there are also ways to try

and avoid them.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the majority of people over 70. it can be painful and debilitating, and there are almost as many treatments as there are sufferers. each patient has individual needs and challenges, depending on a host of factors.

Thus it is necessary to have a healthy

weight strategy which includes

exercise. Regular physical activity

can help maintain strength, flexibility,

balance and coordination throughout

one’s life span. the ability to perform

daily tasks and physical function declines

in the sedentary population compared

with their active counterparts. in the el-

derly, exercise can help reduce the risk

of falls. it is well established that physical

activity reduces the risk of cardiovascu-

lar disease, high blood pressure, type 2

diabetes and some cancers, and also has

psychological benefits.

An unfortunate consequence of physi-

cal activity, whether it is sport, play, work or

recreation, is injury. participation in stren-

uous forms of exercise, contact sports, and

highly competitive sports poses greater

risk of injury. the risk of injury in mild to

moderate forms of fitness-related activity

is minimal and the benefits of exercise far

outweigh any risks.

Sports injuries occur when a load

or strain is applied to the body which

exceeds the body’s capacity to adapt, re-

sulting in tissue damage. Acute injuries

have a clearly defined onset and usually

result from a fall, twist or collision. the

cause of an acute injury is often con-

sidered accidental, for example, when a

basketball player slips on a wet floor and

sprains his or her ankle. However, upon

closer examination, associated contrib-

uting factors may often be identified like

worn out shoes, muscle fatigue and lack

of conditioning. Common acute injuries

are ligament sprains of the knee and

ankle, muscle contusions, and fractures.

Overuse injuries have a more gradual

insidious onset. it may be difficult to

determine when the problem actually

began. A basic principle of training is that

the body will respond with tissue-specific

adaptation. if the training load applied is

increased gradually and the body is al-

lowed to adapt to this load, successively

greater loads may be tolerated. Athletes

who push their physical limits risk injury.

doing too much, too soon, too often and

without rest, is a recipe for injury! this

is a common problem amongst runners

where the injury rates are significant.

50-70 per cent of runners in any given

year will sustain an injury. Common over-

use injuries in runners are knee-related

conditions like patellofemoral pain and

patellar tendonitis.

Sport injuries can also be catego-

rized by the anatomical structure that

is affected. injury to the bone results in

fracture. injuries to the soft tissues (carti-

lage, muscle, tendon and ligament) have

distinct characteristics based on their

physiological properties and biome-

chanical function. For example, the four

ligaments of the knee each have unique

aspects to treatment and prognosis. the

mechanism of ligament injury is joint

overloading into an extreme position

beyond the normal range. the damage

to the ligament ranges from a stretch to

the fibers to complete tear of the liga-

ment. the medial collateral ligament of

the knee is treated non-operatively and

most patients will have full functional

recovery. On the other hand, disruption

of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of

the knee may result in recurrent instabil-

ity. ACL tears can start out with one simple

move gone wrong—like a sudden change

in direction, coming down from a jump, or

pivoting. the end result can be recurrent,

and an increased risk of early onset osteo-

arthritis. Surgical reconstruction of the ACL

ligament is often necessary to return the

individual to an active lifestyle.

proper diagnosis and treatment of

sport injuries is necessary not only to

return individuals to their previous

activity level in a timely fashion, but also

to reintegrate them into their work and

activities of daily living. the challenge in

managing sport injuries is to identify the

causative factors, understand the physi-

cal demands of the sport, and advise

regarding injury prevention. Sport medi-

cine physicians have specialized training

and skills that allow them to care for

active individuals of all ages. they often

work with other health professionals like

physiotherapists, massage therapists,

and orthopaedic surgeons using a team

approach to help guide their patients

back to health. After all, exercise is good

medicine!

dr. Renata Frankowich, BMath, Md,

CCFp, FCFp, dipSportMed, Board of di-

rector: Canadian Association of Sports

Medicine and assistant chief medical

officer for the Canadian Olympic team,

vancouver 2010.

Sports Injuries From A Sports Medicine PerspectiveRegular physical activity is an important aspect of healthy living. exercise has beneficial effects on our bones and joints, particularly weight bearing exercises which are critical in developing peak bone mass and thereby pre-venting osteoporosis. Joint wear and tear in the form of osteoarthritis is accelerated in obese patients.

Osteoarthritis: Pain relief doesn’t have to hurt

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BY: dR. ReNAtA FRANKOWiCH, BMAtH, Md, CCFp, FCFp, dipSpORtMed

BY: LAURA MANN

there’s no cure for osteoarthritis except risky and invasive joint replace-

ment surgery… treatments involve drugs that help in managing pain and improving mobility and quality of life.

Make no bones about it

Calcium is essential in Maintaining strong bones

did you know that more than 70 per cent of Canadian women do not get enough calcium? Since calcium cannot be produced by the human body it is up to the individual to consume enough of it—through food or supplements—to maintain strong bones. An easy way to help reach this daily calcium goal is to incorporate Yoplait Asana into your diet.Yoplait Asana’s unique recipe contains three complementary ingredients: calcium, vitamin d and Milk Basic protein (MBp™), an innovative dairy ingredient exclusive to Yoplait in Canada that could reduce the activity of cells responsible for bone resorption1 and could increase cell activity involved in bone formation2. One serving (175 g) of Yoplait Asana in the plain variety provides 40 per cent of the Rdi of calcium, twice as much calcium than most regular yogourts and 30 per cent of the Rdi of vitamin d. Yoplait Asana tastes great without a chalky taste.it is important to build healthy bones throughout your life and to do what you can to prevent the degeneration of bone density. You can incorporate more calcium into your diet by eating calcium fortified foods and substituting yogourt into your favourite recipes. visit Yoplait.ca to find recipe ideas!

1 (Aoe et al., 2005)2 (Kawakami 2004)

6 AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt 7

bones & joint Pain

Throughout your adult life, calcium

is used in many places in the body,

for many different things. if you

don’t get enough calcium in your diet,

your body uses calcium stored in your

bones, which can weaken them over time.

if you keep calcium available through the

food you eat, your body won’t need to

use up the calcium in your bones. good

sources of calcium include dairy products,

fish, vegetables and some fruits.

it’s not enough just to eat foods with

calcium, though. As you get older, you

become less able to absorb nutrients

from food, and the calcium in some foods

is harder to absorb than the calcium in

others. it’s estimated that we only absorb

about 30-50 per cent of the calcium in our

diet. vitamin d helps your body absorb

the calcium in your food, so it’s important

to get enough vitamin d as well as cal-

cium. Your body makes vitamin d when

your skin is exposed to sunlight, and vi-

tamin d is found in dairy products. Many

foods are fortified with vitamin d, such

as juice and margarine. Check labels as

liver, fish and egg yolks are the only foods

that naturally contain vitamin d. Calcium

and vitamin d supplements can help you

meet your daily requirements as well, but

choosing the right foods can make a big

difference. the calcium in spinach and

rhubarb is harder for your body to absorb

than the calcium in broccoli. But, you’d still

need to eat over 10 spears of broccoli to

get the same amount of calcium found in

one cup of yogurt.

Certain foods, however, can speed up

calcium loss. A high-salt diet can cause

your body to lose calcium, so it’s impor-

tant to watch your salt intake. in addition

to the table salt you add to food, there is

hidden salt, or sodium, in many foods. So

even if a food doesn’t taste salty, check the

label. Often, canned and preserved foods

such as soups or bread contain high so-

dium levels, and restaurant food can also

have a lot in it. You only need about 2300

mg (1 tsp.) of sodium per day, but many

Canadians eat far more.

Canadians sometimes drink too much

caffeine. the caffeine found in tea, coffee

and soft drinks can contribute to calcium

loss, as can drinking alcohol. Heavy alcohol

use or drinking more than four cups of cof-

fee or caffeine-containing drinks in a day

may put your bone health at risk.

Joint health is also important as we age.

Your joints connect your bones and make

it possible for you to move. problems like

arthritis are mainly problems of the joints

and can be painful and dangerous condi-

tions causing loss of mobility or falls.

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain

boron, and diets high in this nutrient show

a decreased rate of arthritis. For people

already experiencing trouble with bones

or joints, foods containing omega-3 oils

(salmon, walnuts, olive oil or flax) may help

lessen inflammation and alleviate pain.

A diet high in dairy, fresh fruits and veg-

etables, lean meats, nuts and whole grains

and low in preserved foods, caffeine and

alcohol will help you keep your bones and

joints healthy.

The McCaig institute truly dem-

onstrates how multidisciplinary

teams of engineers, scientists and

clinicians effectively translate bench top

research to a clinical setting—directly

improving treatment options and qual-

ity care for patients. three examples of

recent biomedical engineering endeav-

ors include: developing the Rotobot, in-

venting the SpideR Limb positioner and

creating a new computer-assisted sur-

gery system. All three innovations are the

first in the world.

the Rotobot is capable of reproducing

the movement and forces in a joint. it al-

lows researchers to investigate specific

problems by conducting controlled ex-

periments. the knowledge gained from

this work is then used to modify treat-

ment options for living patients. individu-

als who may be predisposed to develop-

ing Osteoarthritis, or those that have a

hereditary risk of joint injury, will benefit

from this research. A second prototype of

the Rotobot has recently been released,

and several research groups at universi-

ties in North America have purchased this

second generation machine.

Another unique robot-like tool devel-

oped by biomedical engineers in Calgary

has dramatically changed the way ortho-

paedic surgeons control and position

limbs during upper extremity surgeries.

Not only does the SpideR free up space

and an extra set of hands in the operating

room, but it allows the surgeon to control

the device through foot pedal activation

in order to support and provide trac-

tion for even the heaviest limb. the key

element of the SpideR was designed by

Brent King, a biology major from UCalgary

who went on to a mechanical engineer-

ing degree from UBC, then joined the

company that manufactures it, teNet

Medical engineering. president Ken

Moore started the company in 1994 with

the support and guidance of colleagues in

the Faculties of engineering and Medicine

including dr. Bob Bray, professor, depart-

ment of Surgery, dr. Nigel Shrive, dphil. ,

director of the McCaig institute for Bone

and Joint Health, as well as dr. Cy Frank,

executive director of the Alberta Bone

and Joint Health institute. “i see it as a

model for a cycle of innovation. people

who are trained at the university who cre-

ated a business that’s generating revenue,

and in turn that business is paying to

train more people and advance research,”

Frank explains. “it’s a win-win situation for

everyone involved. And ultimately it’s the

patients who are benefiting from these

products.”

Up to 25 per cent of patients who un-

dergo total knee replacement surgery

experience pain around the kneecap

in the years following surgery. One of

the causes of this pain is an inaccurate

cut of the kneecap. dr. Carolyn Anglin,

a biomedical engineer in the Schulich

School of engineering and a researcher

at the McCaig institute for Bone and Joint

Health, aims to improve the accuracy of

this cut by providing visual feedback and

measurements to the surgeon via an in-

novative computer system. the computer

takes the information from markers on

the surgeon’s instruments and markers on

the bone and then, using mathematical

algorithms, determines and displays the

optimal position for cutting the kneecap.

Similar computer-assisted surgery sys-

tems exist for the larger bones of the knee

(tibia and femur) and for other joints, but

such systems do not yet exist for the knee-

cap. Anglin and her students collaborate

directly with dr. Carol Hutchison, associate

professor, department of Surgery at the

University of Calgary to combine both the

engineering and surgical perspectives.

As new medical technologies continue

to emerge, there is no question that bio-

medical engineering in Calgary will con-

tinue to be at the forefront!

Innovative Technologies In Bone And Joint Biomedical Engineering BY: SUe HUNteR

BY: LAURA MANN

BY: LAURA MANN

the University of Calgary is uniquely poised to facilitate collaborative research initia-tives between the McCaig institute for Bone and Joint Health in the Faculty of Medicine and the Schulich School of engineering.

Nutrition For Healthy Bones & JointsAs we age, our bones and joint health often goes down-hill. good nutrition can help slow down this process, and it often starts when we’re very young. the body needs calcium to build bones in childhood, and your bone mass reaches its highest level at around age 20. the higher your peak bone mass is at this age, the less likely your bones are to become fragile later.

He hopes to help find solutions

to problems plaguing current

treatments of conditions like ar-

thritis, bone and joint trauma and sports

injury. “in Canada, there are a number of

areas that are exciting for orthopaedic re-

search,” he says. And it certainly is cutting

edge stuff he’s talking about.

One of the areas dr. Jomha studies is

cryopreservation of joint tissue. A major

need that surgeons have is availability of

cartilage for transplants. Cartilage doesn’t

repair itself the same way other tissues

do, as it has no blood supply. that means

that damage to cartilage can often be

permanent and gets worse over time.

When joints are damaged, as in cases of

osteoarthritis, sports injuries or accidents,

a transplant may help people get back to

normal. the good news is that cartilage

transplants have fewer problems with

rejection than other types of transplants,

and patients don’t need to take immuno-

suppressant drugs. the bad news is that

cartilage is very difficult to preserve alive.

When donor cartilage becomes available,

doctors have a very short window before

the donated tissue dies. dead cartilage

can still be used for transplants, but it

won’t work well for long. dr. Jomha and

his team are working on a way to preserve

this type of cell for long periods of time.

Cryopreservation involves cooling the

tissue to very low temperatures (around

-196°C), which slows down cell activity

and stops the tissue from aging. dr. Jomha

hopes that this technique, once perfected,

will allow a tissue bank to be created,

which would help many people by giving

surgeons easy access to donor cartilage

whenever they need it.

transplants only come into play after

the damage has already been done.

Research is also being done to look at

ways of preventing joint damage before

it happens. previous injury to a joint is a

risk factor for arthritis; so better healing

of injuries could help prevent arthritis in

the future. Major focus in orthopaedic

research is being given to finding ways

to stimulate cartilage to heal itself. One

method extracts cartilage cells from

a joint, grows them in a lab and then

puts them back. the problem with this

method is that the cartilage cells change

when they are taken out of the body, and

when they are put back, they don’t quite

return to normal. dr. Jomha is also doing

research using mesenchymal stem cells to

try to create a more natural healing pro-

cess. these stem cells are like master cells

that can change into different cells in the

body, such as bone cells, fat cells or car-

tilage cells. they live in the bone marrow

and are sent through the bloodstream

to heal damaged areas. they are not the

same as the controversial embryonic stem

cells from unborn embryos. “[A cartilage

cell that develops from a stem cell] is not

an old [cartilage cell] that’s been taken

out of its home,” says dr. Jomha. “it’s like a

new [cell] that’s going to build its home.“

Cartilage isn’t the only tissue being

studied. Much research also surrounds

improving bone healing. Surprisingly,

in some cases, broken bones don’t heal

on their own. this is particularly seen in

smokers, as smoking constricts blood

vessels and limits blood flow to broken

bones. people with diabetes may also

have trouble with bone healing. Bones

can be stimulated with certain surger-

ies that can be very expensive, so some

research focuses on finding cheaper ways

to encourage bone healing.

Last, but not least, studies on joint re-

placements in arthritis are at the very fore-

front of orthopaedic research. the Arthritis

Society reports that arthritis is one of the

top three chronic diseases in Canada, and

it affects one in six Canadian adults. Joint

replacement surgery is currently the only

way to cure the problem. thousands of

hip and knee replacement surgeries are

performed in Canada every year. “the

results are quite good,” says dr. Jomha.

“But [researchers] are still pushing for bet-

ter function and more longevity.” Studies

are often being conducted on how to both

maximize the benefits and minimize the

risks of joint replacement surgery.

From full joint replacement to preven-

tion of arthritis and healing of injuries,

it seems that the future of orthopaedics

looks impossibly bright.

Orthopaedic Research Is On The Movedr. Nadr Jomha thinks he can do the impossible. And thank goodness for that. He’s one of Canada’s dedicated researchers in the field of orthopaedics, as well as being a practicing orthopaedic surgeon, past president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society and the director of Orthopaedic Research at the University of Alberta.

Aging is a difficult thing to face, let

alone plan for, and a recent poll

showed that less than half of se-

niors aged 65-85 have researched ways to

live independently at home. Ninety-seven

per cent, however, said they are trying to

be pro-active about their health. Seniors

don’t want to give away control of their

health or focus on how their health may

decline, but by not planning the specif-

ics, they may be missing out on vital

resources that could keep them living

healthily at home.

planning ahead involves understand-

ing possible obstacles. Many problems

that could cause seniors to lose indepen-

dence can be avoided. One of the lead-

ing causes of death and disability in the

elderly is falling. Bone and joint disorders

such as arthritis can contribute to falling,

and muscle weakness or loss of balance

can also add to the problem. “Musculosk-

eletal disorders and bone and joint disor-

ders are a major part of seniors’ natural

aging process,” says Holly quinn, chief

nursing officer at Bayshore Home Health,

Canada’s largest provider of home and

community health care services. “if we

can keep them pain-free and keep them

from falling, they can have a high quality

of life in their home.”

Home care services offer a wide array

of in-home help, depending on the needs

of individual seniors. Lifestyle support

can help lessen strain; in-home visits can

lower the risk of depression; assessment

of hazards in the home can make recom-

mendations on lighting, how to make

stairs safer, or on special equipment that

can make daily living easier.

As the population ages, prevention

becomes increasingly important. it’s one

thing to treat illness or accidental injury

after the fact, but most agree it’s far better

to prevent these things from occurring in

the first place. But seniors may not always

know about the full range of home care

and community services available to

them that could help them get ahead of

potential problems. each province has

different services available, but often

they include things like help with home-

making, home security, transportation,

home maintenance and repair, caregiver

training/education or social networking.

these services can be accessed through

government care programs or insurance

plans, or sometimes purchased directly.

Some programs, like Bayshore’s

groundbreaking myNurse program, offer

individualized plans incorporating many

different services. the myNurse program

was launched last year and assigns se-

niors a personal nurse who helps them

plan and access services with the goal

of helping them stay healthy and avoid

having to move into assisted living or

retirement homes. “We’re getting a lot of

early enthusiasm around the program,”

says Ms. quinn. “i think it’s because it’s

something that [seniors] can proactively

do to remain healthy and remain in their

homes.” depending on the individual

senior, the program provides things like

risk, pain and falls assessments, referrals,

suggestions on rearranging furniture for

safety or a muscle-strengthening pro-

gram. All are based on in-home visits on a

schedule tailored to the individual.

Home care should be thought of as

a tool to help seniors live the way they

want to, despite the limitations they have

to face. And even if life is not yet posing

challenges, it likely will in the future. Se-

niors should feel free to use the available

resources without feeling overwhelmed

or over-managed.

Ms. quinn explains how home care is a

nice balance of independence and assis-

tance: “there’s nothing more reassuring

than the familiar face of a health profes-

sional who understands your personal

needs and will visit you in your home [to]

take care of you.”

For Seniors: Home is Where the Hope isgetting older has its perks. Retirement, grandchildren, community, travel; for seniors, these can be the spoils of a life well lived and also things they’ve been looking for-ward to for years. even though their bodies may be slow-ing down, many seniors have built lives, and homes, that they maintain and love, and they want nothing more than to remain independent and in their homes as they age.

BY: LAURA MANN

there’s no cure for osteoarthritis except risky and invasive joint replace-

ment surgery… treatments involve drugs that help in managing pain and improving mobility and quality of life.

one of the leading causes of death and disability in the elderly is falling.

TOGETHER, WE CAN F IGHT THE F IRE.

More and more

Canadians are living

with infl ammatory

disease. Including

rheumatoid arthritis,

psoriatic arthritis, and

ankylosing spondylitis.

And psoriasis and

Crohn’s disease.

Abbott is committed

to improving the health

of people with these

conditions. Through

research. And by funding

compassionate treatment,

educational initiatives

and organizations that

provide support.

Abbott, the healthcare

community, and you.

Because to get better, we

need to fi ght together.

www.abbott.ca

Abbott-AD Corp Service Eng.indd 1 1/18/10 9:04:50 AM