Anthropometric and pain-related factors associated with functional performance in knee osteoarthritis: A
R B Ramalho1, L Furlan1, L F A Selistre1
1Physiotherapy Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Introduction And Objectives:
Given their known impact on function, anthropometrics and pain should be examined in knee osteoarthritis functional tests. To evaluate how anthropometric measures and pain influence the 30-s CST, 40m FPWT, and 11-step SCT in individuals with KOA.
Material And Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study with 142 participants included. We collected anthropometric data, then applied the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, recorded pain and we administered the performance-based tests. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the influence of clinical and demographic variables on each performance-based test. We performed the analyses in the R language (R version 4.3.2), adopting a significance level of 5%.
Results:
Participants had a mean BMI of 29.1, mean pain 3.5, and mean WOMAC 47. Older age, higher BMI, and female sex were consistently associated with poorer performance. In the 40-meter Fast-Paced Walk Test, older age (β=0.39, 95% CI [0.25, 0.53], p<0.001) and higher BMI (β=0.41, 95% CI [0.15, 0.66], p=0.002) predicted slower performance, with men performing faster (β=-3.86, 95% CI [-6.36, -1.36], p=0.003). Similar patterns were observed in the 30-s Chair Stand and 11-step Stair Climb tests, with worse WOMAC scores additionally associated with lower performance. Pain did not significantly affect any test.
Conclusion:
Advanced age, being female, high BMI and low self-reported function negatively impacted performance-based tests.
