New study aims to reduce osteoarthritis after injury

Gaby Loots and Aimy Sebastian (both BBTD) are embarking on a new five-year research project to identify ways to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) in knees and other joints as part of a $2.3 million grant awarded to UC Davis by the National Institutes of Health. Previous research shows that OA, or the breakdown of cartilage and other joint tissues, can be triggered by common sports injuries such as ligament or meniscus tears. This joint degeneration starts with inflammation in the first few days after the injury, even though pain and other symptoms may not appear for another decade or two. The right amount of physical activity after a joint injury can help relieve swelling and maintain range of motion. Too much exercise, however, can make inflammation worse and further damage tissues, while too much rest can lead to joint stiffness and bone and muscle loss. The UC Davis–LLNL team will conduct studies in mice to determine the ideal balance of exercise and rest directly following joint injury for reducing inflammation and OA. They also will determine if surgical restabilization of the joint further reduces OA.