(RxWiki News) A simple hunch has often led to great scientific discoveries. The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) is putting money behind an orthopedic surgeon's hunch.
This doctor suspects women, who have osteoarthritis much more often than men, actually experience an entirely different inflammation than men with the sometimes crippling disease.
Mary I. O'Connor, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida reports that knee osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in the U.S., is experienced with more pain in women than in men. Additionally, women get knee osteoarthritis more often than men.
"Alert your doctor if osteoarthritis is limiting your life."
Dr. O'Connor's report has led to a grant proposal by SWHR and its Interdisciplinary Studies in Sex-Differences Network on Musculoskeletal Health to investigate this hypothesis.
This surgeon informs that her new study is leading the way in discovering the actual biological reasons that women have a greater burden in this inflammatory disease than men.
Phyllis Greenberger, SWHR president and CEO announces that this is a devastating disease seems to affect women differently than men. Her society is delighted to award this research grant to such deserving scientists.
Hopefully, the upcoming research will have the ability to benefit those suffering with constant pain and inflammation in the knees.
