{"id":22002,"date":"2025-10-29T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=22002"},"modified":"2025-10-29T10:00:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T14:00:57","slug":"could-this-safer-treatment-relieve-knee-osteoarthritis-without-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/health\/could-this-safer-treatment-relieve-knee-osteoarthritis-without-surgery-22002\/","title":{"rendered":"Could this safer treatment relieve knee osteoarthritis without surgery?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knee osteoarthritis<\/strong> affects millions of adults, often leaving them choosing between pain medication or surgery. But new research offers hope for a less invasive treatment<\/strong><\/a> option. A recent placebo-controlled clinical trial found that low-dose radiation therapy may provide meaningful pain relief and improve mobility in people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis \u2014 without the risks tied to drugs or joint replacement.<\/p>\n

The findings come from a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted across three medical centers in Korea, presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2025 Annual Meeting<\/a><\/strong>. The study showed that a short series of radiation sessions, at doses far lower than those used in cancer therapy, significantly reduced knee pain after four months.<\/p>\n

How low-dose radiation could help with osteoarthritis pain<\/h2>\n

Patients who received the higher radiation dose showed marked improvement<\/strong> compared with those who received sham (placebo) treatment. In this group, 70% met responder criteria, meaning they reported significant progress in at least two areas: pain, physical function, and overall condition. By contrast, only 42% of the placebo group experienced similar results.<\/p>\n

The group that received an even smaller dose, did not show a statistically significant difference compared to placebo. This finding suggests that the therapeutic effects depend on a minimum dose threshold to trigger meaningful relief.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Importantly, no radiation-related side effects were reported<\/strong>. According to Dr. Byoung Hyuck Kim, principal investigator and assistant professor of radiation oncology at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, this approach could offer a safe “middle ground” for patients struggling with chronic knee pain.<\/p>\n

A conservative alternative to medication and surgery<\/h2>\n

“People with painful knee osteoarthritis often face a difficult choice between the side effects of pain medications and the risks of joint<\/a> replacement surgery<\/strong>,” Dr. Kim explained. “There\u2019s a clear need for moderate interventions between weak pain medications and aggressive surgery, and radiation may be a suitable option \u2014 especially for those who can\u2019t tolerate drugs or injections.”<\/p>\n

Osteoarthritis \u2014 the most common form of arthritis \u2014 affects more than 32 million U.S. adults<\/strong>, typically damaging the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. Over time, this leads to stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. Early management focuses on weight control, physiotherapy, and over-the-counter pain relief. Surgery is often considered when symptoms severely limit daily life.<\/p>\n

The trial highlights a new possibility for patients who fall between these extremes<\/strong> \u2014 those with ongoing discomfort but without severe joint destruction.<\/p>\n

A therapy with a misunderstood reputation<\/h2>\n

While low-dose radiation therapy is already used to treat joint pain in several European countries, including Germany and Spain, it remains underrecognized elsewhere. “There is a misconception that therapeutic radiation is always high-dose,” Dr. Kim said. “But for osteoarthritis, it\u2019s only a small fraction of what\u2019s used for cancer<\/strong> \u2014 less than 5% \u2014 and the treated joints are far from vital organs.”<\/p>\n

In this study, participants underwent six sessions of either real or simulated radiation, without knowing which they received. Other pain relievers were restricted to acetaminophen during the four-month follow-up, ensuring that results weren\u2019t masked by medication use.<\/p>\n

The study\u2019s placebo-controlled design allowed researchers to distinguish real therapeutic effects from placebo responses<\/strong> \u2014 which can be strong in osteoarthritis research. About 40% of patients in the placebo group improved, consistent with rates seen in prior trials of medications or injections.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Knee osteoarthritis affects millions of adults, often leaving them choosing between pain medication or surgery. But new research offers hope … <\/p>\n

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