Over 53 million Americans are living with arthritis, a painful, degenerative joint disease that can limit function and mobility, and significantly impact quality of life.  Researchers at the Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research at Kessler Foundation are exploring an innovative approach to easing joint pain.

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research, and Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, research scientist, co-direct the Derfner-Lieberman Lab. They are adapting a procedure known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy to help restore damaged joints. Originally used to break up kidney stones, this noninvasive treatment sends targeted, high-energy sound waves to affected areas in the joints, specifically to regions containing blood vessels known as bone marrow lesions, to promote healing.

“Thanks to the Derfner Foundation for their generosity in establishing this unique lab and their funding of a pilot study that seeks to determine if and how high-frequency sound waves can safely reduce inflammation in the bone marrow of damaged joints, decrease pain, and improve function,” acknowledges Dr. Dyson-Hudson.

The current study focuses on arthritis of the knee, the largest and most complex joint in the human body. Age, overuse, injury, obesity, and other factors can contribute to the development of knee arthritis, making this a common but challenging condition to treat. Replacement surgery with its lengthy recovery period is often the only option.

That’s one reason Dr. Hogaboom expresses excitement about this nonsurgical approach: “We aim to help people maintain a mobile and active lifestyle for as long as possible.” Can extracorporeal shockwave therapy alleviate joint pain?  Equally promising is this treatment's potential to relieve spasticity, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other conditions related to joint, tissue, and nerve damage. “Support from generous friends is the catalyst to advancing our regenerative rehabilitation research, and for that, we are grateful,” says Dr. Hogaboom.