Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of physical disability in adults worldwide and is associated with a significant personal and economic burden. It is estimated that 1 in 8 Canadian adults currently have OA which results in 27.5 billion dollars in annual economic burden to individual Canadians and the healthcare system. Most commonly affecting the knee, OA is characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage - a smooth lining at the ends of bones that permit ease of movement and shock absorption. It is believed that high magnitude and poorly distributed loads that pass through the knee joint play a strong role in the development and progression of knee OA. Thus, improvements in pain, physical function and quality of life can be achieved by developing treatments that effectively reduce and more evenly distribute these loads. My research program will focus on the use sophisticated motion analysis equipment and techniques as a way to measure the loads experienced by the knee joint during movement. Specifically, the research will focus on two methods to reduce and more evenly distribute loads within an arthritic knee: gait modification and shoe orthotics. These treatments are designed to be non-invasive (non-surgical and non-pharmacological) and delivered with minimal resources or expense in order to improve patient safety while reducing healthcare costs. The focus on non-invasive treatments is in stark contrast to the majority of current OA research which is in the areas of surgery or drugs. Thus, the research will provide effective treatment alternatives that also have lower costs of delivery, less side effects of treatment, and higher availability to patients. Additionally, the development of new treatment strategies that minimize joint loads have great potential in improving symptoms and slowing the rate of disease progression, thereby reducing the economic costs in the long-term and significantly improving the quality of life of those affected.