Not sure how we missed this one. The study was partially funded by the
manufacturer. But, it still looks like it's worth looking into.

http://healthinfo.carolinas.org/HealthNews/Reuters/20040504elin025.htm

Fatty acid cream improves knee arthritis
Last Updated: 2004-05-04 16:20:04 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with the wear-and-tear kind of arthritis of
the knee may benefit from a proprietary cream containing a blend of cetylated
fatty acids. Pain relief and improved functional performance may be experienced
as early as half an hour after the cream is applied to the affected joint.

In the Journal of Rheumatology, researchers describe a study involving 40
patients with osteoarthritis of one or both knees who were randomly assigned to
treatment with either Celadrin cream (made by Imagenetix, Inc., of San Diego,
California), or an inactive placebo cream.

Each patient was assessed for knee range of motion, timed "up-and-go" from a
chair, stair climbing, and other tests before the study began, at 30 minutes
after the first application of the cream, and after 30 days of twice-daily
application.

Dr. William J. Kraemer, of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and his
colleagues observed significant improvements among treated patients in the
stair-climbing and up-and-go tests at 30 minutes, as well as after 30 days.

Supine range of motion had also improved significantly at both these time
points in the treated patients.

"Topical treatment with cetylated fatty acids significantly increased ...
balance, stair climbing ability, ability to rise from a chair, and walking,"
the authors point out. They add, "A unique finding was an immediate effect of
this treatment 30 minutes after initial cream application."

These findings support the use of cetylated fatty acids as part of pain relief
treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the investigators
conclude.

The study was partially supported by Imagenetix. Inc.

Source: Journal of Rheumatology, April 2004.
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Hoping your hills are never too steep!
Be well, Patty