A new method of regrowing cartilage by zapping the bone could bring pain relief to millions of people who suffer from arthritis.<br /><br />The technique, which has been successfully tested on rabbits, uses small electric shocks to stimulate cartilage growth. <br /><br />Around 10 million people in the UK suffer from arthritis or similar conditions which cause joint pain and stiffness.<br /><br />Normally, pads of cartilage cushions these areas, but they can become worn with age or through injury, causing the bones to rub and making everyday activities like walking incredibly painful.<br /><br />Currently, treatments involve replacing damaged cartilage with a healthy piece taken from elsewhere in the patient's body or from a donor.<br /><br />But healthy cartilage is in short supply and removing it from other parts of the body could cause more problems.<br /><br />To address this, scientists have explored ways of getting the body to regrow its own healthy cartilage, but attempts have failed so far.<br /><br />Now, scientists have discovered the missing ingredient for the cartilage to grow back properly - electricity.
