Salford arthritis sufferers set to benefit from charity grant
PEOPLE in Salford who suffer from arthritis in their knees are set to benefit from the setting up of a project aimed at reducing their pain - with the help of special insoles.
Leading medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign has awarded a grant of £19,239 to researchers at Salford University, to enable them to carry out the one-year study project.
Researcher Christopher Nester, a State Registered Chiropodist working on a PhD project at the university's Department of Rehabilitation, is optimistic the study will be of practical help to some of the thousands of people who suffer from the crippling effects of knee osteoarthritis.
"The project will involve treating patients with knee arthritis with insoles which have a wedge to one side to alter the movement in the foot," explained Mr Nester."Evidence from small studies in the United States and Japan suggest by doing this, the alignment of the knee can be altered, and the pain associated with arthritis reduced.
"Certainly, there is considerable clinical evidence to suggest that by altering the movements in the foot using specialised insoles, it is possible to provide effective treatment of knee injuries."
As well as benefiting patients, Mr Nester hopes the study will help to explain the basic underlying relationship between the movements in the foot and the movements of the knee.
"We will aim to deduce this relationship, using an infra red based 3D motion analysis system and force measuring plates embedded into the floor of our dedicated gait laboratory," he added.
"With this equipment, it is possible to determine the motions and forces acting at the foot and knee in all directions during the entire walking cycle, and analysis of this data will provide a clearer understanding of the role the foot has in the cause, prevention and treatment of knee problems."
The ARC is the only medical research charity in the UK dedicated solely to finding the cause of and cure for arthritis, and all forms of rheumatic disease. Last year it raised nearly £21m.
