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Consistency of knee pain: correlates and association with function
1Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. tneogi@bu.edu
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
|August 17, 2010
Summary
Many people experience fluctuating knee pain. Inconsistent knee pain is linked to better physical function and strength, potentially indicating an earlier disease stage.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Knee pain fluctuation and its influencing factors are not well understood.
- Understanding knee pain consistency is crucial for managing osteoarthritis (OA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and factors associated with knee pain consistency.
- To investigate the link between knee pain consistency and physical function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study.
- Assessed frequent knee pain (FKnP) at two time points in individuals with or at high risk for knee OA.
- Analyzed sociodemographic factors, pain severity, and function in relation to pain consistency.
Main Results:
- 43% of knees with pain exhibited inconsistent pain, while 57% had consistent pain.
- Radiographic OA, depressive symptoms, and widespread pain were associated with less inconsistent knee pain.
- Individuals with inconsistent knee pain demonstrated better pain, function, and strength.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of individuals with knee pain experience inconsistency.
- Inconsistent knee pain correlates with improved physical function and strength, even after adjusting for pain severity.
- Inconsistent knee pain may suggest an earlier stage of knee osteoarthritis.
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