RESEARCH

WORKING TOWARDS A PAIN FREE FUTURE

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that involves articular cartilage breakdown, loss of joint function with pain, and severe disability.

Currently, there are more than 4.4 million people in Canada living with osteoarthritis.

With millions of people affected globally, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a huge health care burden.

Further, knee ligament and cartilage injury in younger populations can result in the development of osteoarthritis over time. Despite successful reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis still develops within 10-15 years in most individuals. This situation can severely impact one’s quality of life, employment opportunities, and overall health.

Within 30 years, one in four Canadians is expected to have osteoarthritis.

The objective of this research is to determine changes associated with damage, contribute to the understanding of inflammation development, and provide foundational evidence for care related to possibly preventing chronic conditions, most notably osteoarthritis.

By advancing methods of treatment, early osteoarthritis sufferers can effectively carry on with day-to-day activities, as well as avoid more invasive and expensive surgical methods, such as joint replacements.

research projects

PRE-CLINICAL
MODELS

Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Animal Studies

Osteoarthritis
Management

JointEffort + GLA:D Study 

  • A Comparison Between a Standardized (GLA:DTM Canada) and an Individualized (JointEffort) Exercise Program on Functional Mobility, Quality of Life, Pain Management, and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients (Project Lead)
  • Funding: McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health Encore Catalyst Operating Grant (2017-2019)

Vivametrica Study

  • Application of Wearable Technology and Vivametrica Analytics to Support Outcomes of Knee Total Joint Arthroplasty in Alberta (Project Co-Lead)
  • Funding: Alberta Innovates Accelerating Innovations into Care Grant (2017-2019)

Patient-Oriented
Research

Metastatic Bone Disease Study 

  • The Development a Parallel Patient- and Surgeon-Focused Questionnaire Designed to Elucidate the Gaps in Surgeon vs. Patient Expectations Contributing to Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in the Surgical Management of Metastatic Bone Disease (Project Co-Lead)
  • Funding: Canadian Institute of Health Research Patient-Oriented Research Collaboration Grant (2018-2019), Cancer Strategic Clinical Network Cancer Control Alberta Seed Grant (2018-2019) & Mach-Gaensslen Foundation of Canada Student Grant (2017)

Arthroplasty Interview Tool

  • Evaluation of The Development of a Readiness Interview Tool to Empower Patients to Modify Risk Factors Prior to Total Joint Arthroplasty (Project Co-Lead)

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