Dog Study Could Lead to Help For Humans with Sports Injuries

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common condition in humans and in their canine companions. An estimated 20% of dogs older than a year and 12% of people between 25 and 74 will develop the condition.

The causes and mechanisms are not well understood, however age and weight are considered major risk factors.

Injuries also lead to developing the disease. In fact one of the most common of all sports injuries in humans as well as dogs – a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament — is the leading cause of post traumatic osteoarthritis.

The mystery is why many, but not all, dogs and people with ACL injuries develop post traumatic osteoarthritis, medically referred to as PTOA. Now, a study of dogs at Cornell University’s veterinary school, published this month in Scientific Reports, offers clues to the potential for developing PTOA.

Researchers led by Dr. Heidi Reesink, assistant professor in equine health at Cornell, found that changes in the production of lubricin, a joint lubricating protein, could be a precursor to developing joint disease.

Lubricin is critical to smooth joint functioning. “We know that if a person or animal doesn’t make that protein, they will develop devastating joint disease affecting all the major weight-bearing joints,” says Reesink.

The prevailing view among veterinarians and physicians is that lubricin production declines after injury, leading to the development of PTOA. “The dogma in this field has been that lubricin decreases in joint disease,” Reesink said.

But the study found that in canine patients with a knee ligament tear lubricin increased and it was correlated with the development of osteoarthritis.

“This indicates that the presence of increased lubricin might actually be a biomarker for predicting future osteoarthritis,” said Reesink. “We also saw increased lubricin in dogs months to years after they injured their ACLs, suggesting that lubricin might be an indicator of ongoing joint instability.”

Increased lubricin could serve as a tipoff to clinicians to intervene with early treatments to ward off or slow the development of osteoarthritis, not just in dogs, but in people, too.

Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash

How Wellness Initiatives Can Strengthen Your Workforce
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

How Wellness Initiatives Can Strengthen Your Workforce

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alexis Schumacher
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alexis Schumacher

Women in Leadership at GKR
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Women in Leadership at GKR

Spain Becomes First European Country to Offer Paid Menstrual Leave
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Worklife

Spain Becomes First European Country to Offer Paid Menstrual Leave

Green Key Unlocked: Benefits of Travel Nursing
General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: Benefits of Travel Nursing

How to Maintain Culture in Remote Environments
Architecture + Engineering General Interest Green Key News Worklife

How to Maintain Culture in Remote Environments

Tips to Strengthen Time Management
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Tips to Strengthen Time Management

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Katie Kressel
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Professional Support Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Katie Kressel

Workplace Trends 2023
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Workplace Trends 2023

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jason Kien
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jason Kien

How to Use ChatGPT to Build a Resume
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Marketing Technology Worklife

How to Use ChatGPT to Build a Resume

Green Key Unlocked: Data Roles in IT
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: Data Roles in IT

The New Marketing & Sales Team
Marketing Technology

The New Marketing & Sales Team

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Matt Schirano
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Leadership + Management Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Matt Schirano

Green Key Unlocked: The Effect of Tech Layoffs
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Leadership + Management Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: The Effect of Tech Layoffs

How to Prepare for a Recruiter Interview with a Staffing Agency
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

How to Prepare for a Recruiter Interview with a Staffing Agency

5 Ways to Make Your Job More Meaningful
General Interest Green Key News Worklife

5 Ways to Make Your Job More Meaningful

Minimum Wage Increases in 2023
Accounting + Finance Architecture + Engineering Financial Services General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Human Resources Information Technology Leadership + Management Legal Support Marketing Technology Pharma Professional Support Worklife

Minimum Wage Increases in 2023

2023 Recruitment Trends
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

2023 Recruitment Trends

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Carissa Iacona
General Interest Green Key News Marketing Technology Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Carissa Iacona

Latest Blog Posts
View All Posts
How Wellness Initiatives Can Strengthen Your Workforce

How Wellness Initiatives Can Strengthen Your Workforce

Establishing an inclusive culture and focusing on employee health can boost productivity, encourage teamwork, and increase better communication.
Read More
#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alexis Schumacher

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alexis Schumacher

Her natural ability to communicate, along with some professional experience in public relations and outreach, has allowed her to flourish...
Read More
Women in Leadership at GKR

Women in Leadership at GKR

Although being a woman in a leadership role comes with its challenges, those at Green Key also note the feelings...
Read More