Could help more people recover from nerve injuries and illnesses University of Alberta researchers and physicians are aiming to combine their expertise in surgery, electrical stimulation and drug discovery in an effort to help more people recover more quickly from nerve injuries and illnesses. Nerve regrowth is very slow, at best one millimetre a day,…
Certain types of dietary fibre cause an inflammatory response in some patients
People who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease may soon have access to personalized dietary guidelines to keep them feeling well, thanks to new research on how dietary fibre affects the disease. The research team discovered that certain types of dietary fibre cause an inflammatory response in some patients, causing symptoms to worsen. They are now…
Findings show promise for new anti-inflammatory drugs and treatments for autoimmune diseases
New research shows a group of enzymes may have a critical role in how immune cells are activated and then migrate to certain sites in the body – findings that could improve our understanding of inflammation and potentially lead to new treatments. In a recent study, researchers explored a particular family of enzymes called neuraminidases. "We…
The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard allows you to maximize your typing with less fatigue and strain
Do you seem to forever live behind your keyboard and, more often than not, it’s a painful experience? You might want to give the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard from Cleave a try. It’s designed to allow you to maximize your typing with less fatigue and strain on your hands while improving your posture. The standard keyboard…
Research points the way to better tests and potential new treatments for pain management
Researchers have uncovered signature metabolites – much like fingerprints in the blood – linked to the cognitive dysfunction and impaired motor skills associated with medical cannabis treatment. The work could lead to better roadside blood tests for impairment, and could also point the way toward supplements or strains of medical cannabis that reduce impairment while…
Retails for $179.99 and is available from Amazon or directly from SKG Canada.com
While most of us hate to admit it, something we all have in common is the little aches and pains in our muscles and joints. The SKG F5 Percussion Massager Gun is the answer for those days when we need a little massage or pain relief therapy. The beauty of this sleek little gadget is…
Attempting to determine whether the peripheral nervous system plays a role in facial pain
A newly announced grant from the MS Society is helping researchers at the University of Alberta to better understand the underlying cause of chronic pain that afflicts an estimated half of people with multiple sclerosis, and how to eradicate it. Bradley Kerr and his team are looking in particular at the peripheral nervous system, which involves all…
Researchers find no evidence that BMI is a good determinant of surgical outcomes for osteoarthritis
A new study shows that losing weight before knee replacement surgery doesn’t lead to better outcomes for patients. In a systematic review published in Joint Bone Spine, researchers in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine found that weight loss before surgery may not be beneficial for people with advanced knee osteoarthritis. Medical practitioners have long advised patients…
Study could help health professionals understand what motivates patients to live on their own terms despite dealing with persistent pain
Chronic back pain can keep us from living our best lives, but a University of Alberta study shows why some people don’t let it stop them. The research, published in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, sheds light on what motivates people to soldier through their persistent pain. The qualitative study is one of just a handful that…
Many people have ongoing pain where there is no obvious injury, or continue to have pain at the site of an injury long after it has healed
Chronic pain impacts the lives of many Canadians every day. Thousands wake up every morning to pain, deal with it throughout the day and don’t even escape its clutches as they sleep. Neuropathic pain is a very common chronic condition that poses a challenge for doctors. It's the result of a primary lesion or dysfunction in…