Project 450783

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints, and a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. It is the fourth most common cause for hospitalizations and a leading indication for joint replacement surgery costing the Medicare system over $42 billion in the knee and hip replacements alone. It occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. Patients with OA have difficulty in moving and suffer from chronic pain reducing their quality of life. Current treatment options for OA are intended to manage and alleviate pain, unfortunately, their effectiveness is often temporary as they are not intended to cure or reverse the course of the disease. This study will investigate the cartilage repair and pain behaviour following the treatment with a natural substance (Link N) that has the potential to alleviate pain and reverse OA by helping repair the cartilage.