The Common Form of Joint Dysfunction: Its Incidence and Treatment

The author describes a generalized articular condition which he attributes to a slowly progressive metabolic disorder which he treats with nicotinamide. He calls this condition the common form of joint dysfunction referred to by others as the normal aging process. As a basis for his treatment he measured ranges of various joint movement and computed a joint range index for each joint. An index of below 96 per cent of normal in a person indicates joint dysfunction. The author next describes four complicating syndromes frequently existing coincidentally with joint dysfunction. These include trauma, allergic reactions, sodium retention and psychogenic factors. In a separate chapter he coordinates the treatment of joint dysfunction and these four complicating syndromes. A section is devoted to an analysis of clinical data gathered from a series of untreated cases and another group both before and after therapy.