Jovita Newman

Jovita Newman currently serves as the Facilities Coordinator for the Health & Exercise Science Department at Wake Forest University. In addition she is the Project Manager for the Weight Loss and Exercise for Communities with Arthritis in North Carolina (WE-CAN) study and The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study (TOPS) in the Department.

She has a diverse background in biomechanics, aging and physical activity, and arthritis. She has been involved in various HES research projects including the Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (IDEA) study, Strength Training for ARthritis Trial (START), Glucosamine/Chondroitin And Training Exercise Study (GATES) and the Rocking Intervention Study for the Elderly (RISE).

Publications

1. Messier SP, Callahan LF, Beavers DP, Queen K, Mihalko SL, Miller GD, Losina E, Katz JN, Loeser RF, Quandt SA, DeVita P, Hunter DJ, Lyles MF, Newman J, Hackney B, Jordan JM. Weight-loss and exercise for communities with arthritis in North Carolina (we-can): design and rationale of a pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Feb 22;18(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1441-4. PubMed PMID: 28228115; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5322619.
2. Messier SP, Callahan LF, Beavers DP, Queen K, Mihalko SL, Miller GD, Losina E, Katz JN, Loeser RF, Quandt SA, et al. Weight-loss and exercise for communities with arthritis in North Carolina (we-can): design and rationale of a pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Feb 22; 18(1):91. Doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1441-1.
3. KM Beavers, DP Beavers, JJ Newman, AM Anderson, RF Loeser, Jr, BJ Nicklas, MF Lyles, GD Miller, SL Mihalko, SP Messier. Effects of total and regional fat loss on plasma CRP and IL-6 in overweight and obese, older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Advance online publication. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2014.11.005
4. Beavers DP, Beavers KM, Loeser RF, Walton NR, Lyles MF, Nicklas BJ, Shapses SA, Newman JJ, Messier SP. The independent and combined effects of intensive weight loss and exercise on bone mineral density in overweight and obese, older adults with osteoarthritis: the IDEA study. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2014 Jun;22(6): 726-33.
5. Messier S, Mihalko S, Loeser, R, Legault C, Jolla J, Pfruender J, Prosser B, Adrian A, Williamson J. Glucosamine/chondroitin Combined with Exercise for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: a Preliminary Study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007 Nov;15(11):1256-66.
6. DeVita, P., Jolla, J., Smith, K., Mizelle, C., Westerkamp, L. & Hortobagyi, T. (2003). Age associated gait Messier SP, Legault C, Schoenlank CR, Newman JJ, Martin DF, DeVita P. Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Knee Injury in Runners. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2008 Nov;40(11): 1873-9.

Research

The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study (TOPS) – TOPS is a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of long-term dietary weight loss and exercise in the prevention of symptomatic and structural knee osteoarthritis (OA) in females at risk for the disease compared to healthy lifestyle education control. Role: Project Manager

Strength Training for ARthritis Trial (START) –  This study examined the effect of long term intensive resistance training on function, knee joint loads, inflammation, and disease progression in 372 older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Role: Project Manager

Weight loss and exercise for communities with arthritis in North Carolina (WE-CAN). This study is a pragmatic community based trial designed to determine whether an 18-month diet-induced weight loss with exercise intervention significantly decreases pain in overweight and obese adults with knee OA relative to an attention control group. Role: Project Manager

Independent weight loss maintenance for communities with arthritis in North Carolina: the I-CAN clinical trial.  The I-CAN trial includes WE-CAN D+E participants who successfully lost ≥ 5% of their weight by the end of the 18-month trial. The I-CAN intervention is designed to enhance self-efficacy by focusing on the essential role of the individual to facilitate the development of independence by building personal agency to implement the behavioral skills necessary for long-term maintenance of weight loss.