Health News
Health and spine-care news, summarized and cited from the original source.

Study Identifies Compartment-Specific Skeletal Differences in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
A 2026 study in Calcified Tissue International found that women with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) showed lower trabecular bone density in the distal radius compared to non-SSc controls, despite similar…

Denosumab Shows Greater Muscle and Mobility Benefits Than Zoledronic Acid in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
A 2026 study in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle found denosumab improved muscle strength and physical performance more than zoledronic acid in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. Key outcomes included…

Study Identifies Proteins Linked to Bone Mineral Density via Genetic Analysis
A study published in Endocrine Connections used Mendelian randomization to identify 12 plasma proteins associated with bone mineral density (BMD) phenotypes, including total-body, femoral-neck, and lumbar-spine BMD. Strong colocalization supported…

Natural Compound Shows Potential in Targeting Rheumatoid Arthritis Mechanisms
A natural compound derived from plant bark shows promise in reducing inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis models by targeting fatty acid metabolism pathways.

Work-related Movement and Lumbar Spine Direction: A Systematic Review of Lifting, Posture, and Pain Risk
A systematic review published in the International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health examines how lumbar spine movement direction during work-related lifting and posture affects spinal loading and low…

Scientists Identify Molecular Mechanism Behind Statin-Induced Muscle Pain
Scientists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified a molecular mechanism linking statin use to muscle pain and tissue damage. The study, published in…

Imaging Characteristics of Osteitis Condensans Ilii: A Follow-Up Study
A follow-up study in *Skeletal Radiology* identifies MRI characteristics to distinguish osteitis condensans ilii (OCI) from axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The research analyzed 129 patients with axSpA, finding that OCI cases…

3D-Printing in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review of Applications and Outcomes
A systematic review published in *Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)* analyzed 40 studies on 3D-printing in spine surgery, finding that 3D-printing-assisted techniques improved screw placement accuracy and reduced surgical time and blood…

Chlorhexidine and Iodine-Based Skin Preparations Show No Significant Difference in Postoperative Infection Rates After Spine Surgery
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found no significant difference in 90-day postoperative infection rates between chlorhexidine-based and iodine-based skin preparations after instrumented degenerative cervical or…

New Knee Arthritis Treatment Shows Promise as Non-Surgical Alternative
A minimally invasive procedure targeting abnormal blood vessels in the knee has shown lasting pain relief for osteoarthritis patients, offering an alternative to joint replacement surgery. The study of 194…

Genetic Variants Linked to Opioid Use After Spine Surgery, Study Finds
A 2026 study in the Global Spine Journal found that CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes are associated with new persistent opioid use after spine surgery, with poor and ultrarapid metabolizers showing higher…

Scientists Reveal Why Some Workout Recovery Tricks Can Backfire
Scientists reveal that some workout recovery techniques, such as ice baths and compression garments, may hinder long-term muscle adaptation by reducing inflammation, which is essential for strength gains. While these…

Surgical Treatment for Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Older Adults Shows Modest Bone Density Benefits
A 2026 study in BJS Open found that parathyroidectomy modestly improved bone mineral density (BMD) in older patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and mild hypercalcaemia, but the benefits were limited…

Psychological Factors Influence Treatment Preferences in Spine Disorder Patients, Study Finds
A 2026 study in *Cureus* found that psychological factors like tomophobia (fear of surgery) and tomophilia (positive surgical inclination) significantly influence treatment preferences for spine disorders. Among 200 patients, 69%…

A Surprisingly Simple Way to Relieve Knee Arthritis Pain Without Pills or Surgery
A clinical trial published in The Lancet Rheumatology found that adjusting the angle of the feet while walking could significantly reduce knee arthritis pain. Participants who adopted a personalized foot…

Region-Specific QCT Thresholds for Thoracic Spine Osteoporosis Assessment: Study Highlights Limitations of Lumbar-Based Criteria
A study in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders found thoracic spine vBMD (102.5 ± 44.1 mg/cm³) significantly higher than lumbar vBMD (85.1 ± 44.6 mg/cm³). Thoracic vBMD exceeded lumbar values by 14.1…

Study Examines Role of Preoperative Thoracic Spine MRI in Spinal Cord Stimulation Procedures
A 2026 study in Pain Practice found that preoperative thoracic spine MRI identified abnormalities with major clinical implications in 3.6% of patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead placement. While…

FDA-Approved Epilepsy Drug Shows Potential to Reverse Osteoarthritis Damage
A study published in *Bioactive Materials* suggests that lacosamide, an FDA-approved epilepsy drug, may reduce joint pain and reverse cartilage damage in osteoarthritis. The research, led by Yale University, found…

Stanford Researchers Discover Cartilage Regeneration Potential for Osteoarthritis Patients
Scientists have identified a method to restore cartilage in aging knee joints by blocking a protein whose levels rise with age. The approach reversed cartilage loss in mice and protected…

Exploring CBCT Parameters as Indicators of Systemic Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women
This study explored the relationship between CBCT-derived gray value (GV) and fractal dimension (FD) and DEXA-measured bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. While no overall discrimination of BMD categories…

Concurrent Head and Cervical Spine CT Scans: Rising Use and Declining Diagnostic Yield in Trauma Patients
A 2026 study in *Emergency Radiology* found that concurrent head and cervical spine CT scans in trauma patients saw a five-fold increase in use over 10 years, but diagnostic yields…

Even One Strength Training Session a Week Could Make a Difference
Even one strength training session per week may significantly counteract age-related muscle loss, according to new research. The study emphasizes the critical role of muscle strength in maintaining mobility, balance,…

Cervical Spine Assessments Recommended for Female Athletes with Concussion History
A 2026 study in JSAMS plus found that female athletes with a history of sports-related concussion (SRC) were more likely to show cervical spine impairments, including reduced range of motion…

Study Examines Surgical Outcomes for Feline Spinal Trauma Linked to High-Rise Syndrome
A 2026 study in *Veterinary Sciences* analyzed 20 cats with spinal trauma caused by high-rise syndrome, finding that anatomically guided surgical techniques improved functional outcomes. All cases involved falls from…