Fibromyalgia is characterised by chronic widespread pain and mechanical hyperalgesia. It is associated with a higher pain intensity, fewer pain-free intervals and more pronounced pain-related interference in function than other musculoskeletal pain conditions. Increasing evidence supports an underlying augmented central pain processing which includes sensitization of pain-transmitting neurons and dysfunction of pain inhibitory pathways. If this permanent change in the function of the nociceptive system is shown to equal fibromyalgia, the condition may be considered a neuropathic pain condition.

Medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by pain and associated with abnormal knee moments during walking. The relationship between knee OA pain and gait changes remains to be clarified, and a better understanding of this link could advance the treatment and prevention of disease progression. This study investigated changes in knee moments during walking following experimental knee pain in healthy volunteers, and whether these changes replicated the joint moments observed in medial knee OA patients.

Objective To examine the long-term efficacy and safety of five intra-articular injections with hyaluronan in knee osteoarthritis. Methods A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind study of 337 patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for knee osteoarthritis (clinical and laboratory) and with a Lequesne algofunctional index score (LFI) of 10 or greater. Patients received a hyaluronan product (sodium hyaluronate; Hyalgan) (n= 167) or saline (n= 170) intra-articularly weekly for 5 weeks and were followed up to 1 year. Time to recurrence was the primary efficacy parameter. LFI, pain on walking 50 m based on visual analogue scale (VAS pain 50 m), paracetamol consumption, patients' global assessment, Nottingham health profile, joint effusion and number of responders were secondary efficacy parameters. The efficacy parameters were analysed by intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP). All adverse events (AE) were recorded as safety parameters. Results Time to recurrence showed no significant treatment effect (ITT analysis, p = 0.26). Change from baseline in LFI and VAS pain 50 m for the ITT population showed no treatment effect. Paracetamol consumption, patients' global assessment, responder rates and AE displayed no significant difference between treatment groups, analysed by both ITT and PP. Treatment compliance was 95% in the hyaluronan group and 99% in the placebo group. No safety problems were registered. Conclusion In patients fulfilling the ACR criteria for osteoarthritis of the knee with moderate to severe disease activity (LFI >= 10), five intra-articular injections of hyaluronan did not improve pain, function, paracetamol consumption or other efficacy parameters 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the treatment

A food supplement containing fish oils, urtica dioica, zinc, and vitamin E (Phytalgic) for osteoarthritis (OA) has now been tested in a placebo-controlled trial for 3 months and according to the authors has a very large clinical effect, considerably larger than that of any other known product. Even experts endorsing nutraceuticals for OA symptoms would probably agree that a nutraceutical with an effect size above 0.5 is rarely seen. Despite our concerns about the fact that trial registration took place after the study was completed and the likelihood that patients would note the taste of fish, a circumstance that would lead to detection bias, we consider these data promising though with a high risk of bias.

This review article discusses the aspects of sports medicine where musculoskeletal Doppler ultrasound has valuable contribution in diagnosis and/or treatment of some of the typical musculoskeletal sports injuries. Also, conditions where the Doppler ultrasound has no value are discussed. Some guidelines and recommendations are based on personal experience since no evidence in literature exists. The basic technical background of Doppler ultrasound and typical artefacts will be discussed, in order to understand and interpret the Doppler result. Recommendations for the Doppler settings are given in relevant sections. Ultrasound guided treatments where the Doppler result is used as a guide are mentioned and discussed.