The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7225 p733
23 November 2002

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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases: abstract (more)

Arthritic pain follows body clock

Levels of pain intensity and stiffness in arthritis appear to follow the body's circadian rhythms.

Three-quarters of the 21 patients in the study felt most pain and stiffness in the morning and at bedtime, and least during mid-afternoon.

The authors say the predictability of arthritic pain could be used to time treatment for maximum effect (Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2002;61:1075).