The ONE simple thing you can do to help ease crippling arthritis pain By Roger Dobson Published: 00:30 BST, 17 September 2024 | Updated: 00:32 BST, 17 September 2024 e-mail View comments An arm-hair stroker may be an effective way to tackle pain caused by arthritis. The device, the size of a mobile phone, gently stimulates nerve fibres around hairs that respond to light, pleasant touch – such as stroking and massaging. Known as C fibres, they are found in the skin wherever hair grows, as they share connections with hair follicles – the tube-like structures around the hair root.
A clinical trial is under way in Italy to see if using the gadget just twice a week can trigger sensations that override pain signals travelling from diseased joints to the brain, reducing pain in the process. It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of adults in the UK suffer from chronic pain. A major cause is osteoarthritis , where wear and tear erodes cartilage – the tough, gel-like material that acts as a shock absorber for joints – to the point where bones rub together, causing pain and immobility.
A clinical trial is under way in Italy to see if using the gadget just twice a week can trigger sensations that override pain signals. (Stock photo) Known as C fibres, they are found in the skin wherever hair grows, as they share connections with hair follicles. (Stock photo) The hand-held gadget reduced pain by 23 per cent in a group of patients who had suffered from back pain or chronic.