Modifiable lifestyle factors are associated with lower pain levels in adults with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Pain is the most important osteoarthritis (OA) symptom; however, it is poorly understood and markers of disease severity cannot explain pain variability. With no cure for OA, the authors recognized the need to identify modifiable factors to decrease pain and increase physical function. This study examined factors that characterize OA patients experiencing different levels of pain and investigated the relationships among these factors and OA pain.

Effect of self-management education versus quadriceps strengthening exercises on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis

“…In the first instance, both interventions had a significant time effect on pain as observed in this study. Both included components that have been shown to directly impact reduction of pain, the leading complaint in individuals with OA and the one that mostly drives health care use [39]. Pain reduction has been proved directly related with reduced disability and, hence, improvement in physical function [17,23].…”

“…Pain reduction has been proved directly related with reduced disability and, hence, improvement in physical function [17,23]. Connelly et al [39], in a recent cross-sectional survey of 197 individuals with OA, observed a strong negative correlation between physical functioning and pain.…”

Barriers to and Facilitators of Physical Activity among Korean Female Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis and Comorbidity: A Qualitative Study

“…The participants perceived these hardships as knee joint pain-related obstacles to physical activity. Knee joint pain with tenderness and stiffness is one of the most frequent complaints of knee OA patients, which leads to serious limitations on their physical activity [11]. Further, knee OA patients might experience increased physical limitations related to aging and comorbidity, such as diabetes [9].…”

“…Previous studies have suggested that knee OA symptoms, including pain, might be key motivational drivers of physical exercise to reduce this pain, as well as barriers to physical activity [9,25]. Therefore, education and guidelines for healthcare professionals should specifically address physical activity levels and/or intensities [11,25] to improve knee OA patients' participation and joint pain reduction [9]. As a result, in response to pain or fatigue, people with OA are likely to modify their activities, not by decreasing frequency, but by adjusting intensity [25].…”

“…Approximately 83.2% of Korean female adults with knee OA experience pain, and knee OA adults with pain experience 2.83 times more physical activity limitations than adults without knee OA [3]. For knee OA, physical activity is recommended in international clinical guidelines to relieve pain level and to enhance function [9][10][11][12]. Despite the benefits, most Korean knee OA adults do not meet the frequency recommendations of 150 min aerobic exercise weekly or two times/week strength exercise [4].…”