New studies show the impact of support, knee surgery and BMI on arthritis treatment.

New information about arthritis is coming to light all the time, through studies and other investigational activities from all sorts of organizations. It's a good idea to stay on top of the current research and news, as some of it may be helpful for you in managing your arthritis symptoms. Feeling informed about your condition can also lead to feeling more competent to manage it. With that said, here are a few of the latest stories about arthritis:

Support and education are key

According to a study from Hospital for Special Surgery, presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting, a support group that works to meet psychological and educational needs of newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients was a success. Ninety percent of those who participated in the group said they could make more informed choices about their arthritis treatment.

"The Early RA Support and Education program, a part of the Early Arthritis Initiative at Hospital for Special Surgery, addresses the unique psycho-educational needs of people recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis," Adena Batterman, LCSW, manager of RA Support and Education Programs at HHS said, according to an HSS release.

The group is free and features both lectures and discussions to help people learn more and cope with their diagnosis.

Knee surgery could increase arthritis risk

A new study to be presented at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting found a common knee surgery could increase patients' chances of arthritis, according to HealthDay. The surgery is to repair tears in the meniscus, of which there are two in each knee. Meniscal tears are among the most common knee injuries, and the surgery is quite common too. In the study, 31 people received the surgery, and each developed arthritis within a year. Only 59 percent of knees examined that did not undergo the surgery developed arthritis within the same period of time.

Dr. Frank Roemer, an author of the study from Boston University School of Medicine and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, told HealthDay, "Increasing evidence is emerging that suggests meniscal surgery may be detrimental to the knee joint. The indications for meniscal surgery might need to be discussed more carefully in order to avoid accelerated knee joint degeneration."

BMI impacts RA outcomes

Another study from the Hospital for Special Surgery found body mass index impacts people's ability to achieve remission of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, according to an HSS release. Those patients who were very underweight or significantly overweight were least likely to achieve and maintain remission. The study defined a very low BMI as one under 18.5, and a high one as above 25. Patients were tracked over three years using the Disease Activity Score for RA, which measures inflammation markers, swollen joints and how patients themselves feel about their disease. Remission meant having low disease activity recorded by a doctor twice over six months. Patients who were overweight or underweight were less likely to experience remission, and those who were very overweight had worse symptoms than the rest of the patients.

For more on arthritis treatments:

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Stop Getting Unnecessary Medical Treatments
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