Hospital’s ad not based in science

Published 1:10 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011

Shame on Swedish Hospital for its slick medical propaganda posing as a recent advertisement for hip and knee replacement surgery that asks “How did my hips and knees get so much older than the rest of me?” Their answer: “Your long and active life wore them out (picture of smiling senior tennis player). Fortunately, you can get new ones.”

Research tells a different story:

1) Exercise (even strenuous) on normal joints does not result in a substantially increased likelihood of arthritis. “Use it or lose it” is certainly a concept that applies to the joints. The fact is, joints were meant to be used. A condition appropriately called “frozen shoulder” can develop within a week or two if the shoulder doesn’t move, even if there was no injury involved.

2) Injury to the joint is a leading cause of loss of cartilage.

3) Arthroscopic surgery (even diagnostic) of the joints actually increases the amount of arthritic damage (injury) and can accelerate the need for replacement surgery.

4) Ironically, continual use of anti-inflammatory drugs can actually lead to more inflammation and thus a loss of valuable cartilage.

And lastly, no one is getting a “new” knee (or hip or shoulder) — you get an artificial replacement — not DNA infused flesh and bones. Perhaps a better focus of research for Swedish would be in developing artificial cartilage — isn’t it better to replace the pad in the joints than the entire joint itself? But then that would mean fewer profits for the nonprofit.

The idea that an active life leads to arthritis is not backed by medical research. If this deceptive ad is the way that Swedish is going to do business in our community then I am less than pleased with their partnership with Stevens Hospital. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, no.

Ted Neff

Edmonds