Hifas da Terra collaborated with the Poal Institute of Rheumatology in Barcelona and the Osteoarthritis Foundation International, OAFI, on an observational research project involving the assessment of knee function and mobility.
Assessing knee function
The knee plays an important role in everyday movements such as walking, standing up and using stairs. Research into knee function may therefore include different measurements relating to movement and participants’ experiences during everyday activities.
The project collected data using established assessment tools. These included a visual analogue scale and a WOMAC questionnaire.
A visual analogue scale records how a participant rates a subjective experience at a particular point in time. WOMAC is a questionnaire used in research to collect participant-reported information relating to the knee and everyday physical function.
These tools provide structured data, but their results must be interpreted within the limitations of the study design.
The limitations of observational findings
This was an observational project rather than a randomised controlled trial. Observational studies can identify patterns and generate questions for future research, but they cannot establish that an ingredient or intervention caused a particular change.
Factors such as participant characteristics, study size, the absence of a concurrent control group and the use of self-reported measurements must all be considered.
The information collected through this collaboration contributed to Hifas da Terra’s experience in research methodology, participant-reported measurements and cooperation with external organisations.
Preliminary observations require confirmation through appropriately designed controlled studies. Participation in this project does not demonstrate that a commercially available food supplement provides a benefit for knee function, mobility or any medical condition.