Upcoming Test for Early Arthritis Detection

It tends to progress slowly and worsens as time goes on.

Eventually, the discomfort, rigidity, and swelling of the joint are recognized as osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as arthritis.

Early identification, before symptoms appear, could have made a significant impact on the 30 million adults in the US affected by this condition. Currently, there is no dependable test to detect arthritis in its initial stages.

However, there are potential advancements on the horizon. Research teams in both the UK and US believe they have discovered a solution by analyzing the sound variances between healthy and unhealthy joints during movement.

Overview

The team of researchers at Cardiff University in the UK is creating a thin, disposable, electronic "smart" patch that patients can wear over a joint. This patch is modeled after sensors used in jet aircraft wings to identify structural damage and is estimated to cost around 10 pence (13 cents).

Mechanical engineer Davide Crivelli, PhD, described the process for humans: "The acoustic sensor detects cracking or rubbing sounds generated by the joint. Cartilage damage linked to early-stage osteoarthritis produces a unique sound pattern at high frequencies, which are inaudible to the human ear, hence the utilization of specialized acoustic emission sensors."

This process can be carried out at a medical facility, or individuals can buy a patch, place it on the joint for testing, and link it to a self-monitoring smartphone app to track basic movements like walking or climbing stairs.

Stick-Slip Friction

Meanwhile, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, researchers are devising their own cost-effective, non-invasive technique for early detection.

Contrary to the common belief among medical professionals, they discovered that it is not the pressure between joint surfaces that results in wear and tear, but rather a form of friction known as "stiction" in its early stages and stick-slip friction as the problem progresses.

Stick-slip friction, which can cause issues in vehicles, computer hard drives, and doors, has been found to impact human joints as well.

In the initial stages of osteoarthritis, even before symptoms appear, joint surfaces undergo sticking before sliding. This stick-slip cycle can lead to microscopic damage that accumulates over years without showing symptoms.

Striving for Stability

To gauge adhesion and friction forces between joint surfaces, scientists employ a Surface Forces Apparatus device, an extremely sensitive, high-resolution tool.

Acoustic sensor pads are positioned around the joint to provide signals based on the type of friction detected. In a healthy joint, the signal appears as a steady line on the screen. Conversely, damaged joints exhibit various degrees of jagged lines on the signal, depending on the level of damage.

Both research teams in the UK and US are perfecting their methods before moving on to human trials.

If successful, these early detection methods could become widespread in the near future.

While I share the positivity of the creators that this approach could assist in identifying arthritis early, I have some doubts. The prevailing evidence indicates that bone-on-bone friction is not the primary cause of the disease. Instead, systemic inflammation, where the immune system attacks the joints (and potentially other body parts like the heart and brain), is thought to be the root cause.

By managing inflammation through healthy practices, individuals may potentially avoid the necessity to search for joint damage.

Furthermore, this test could act as an incentive for individuals to address chronic inflammation upon discovering that their joint damage is detectable.