Increased sensitivity to physical activity among individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative join disease that is associated with severe pain, depressed mood and activity restriction. Activity based interventions are often recommended for patients with knee OA. However, these exercises are often associated with pain and discomfort. The aim of this study was to determine if individuals with knee OA have an increased sensitivity to physical activity (SPA) and whether this can predict OA-related pain, physicalperformance and self-report function. 

A total of 107 individuals took part in this study, most of whom were classified as overweight or obese and the majority suffered from insomnia. Catastrophizing was both a significant predictor of SPA and pain and function. Most participants experienced increasing level of discomfort during a 6-min walk test and the performance on this test was significantly correlated with pressure pain threshold measured at the knee. 

SPA seems sufficient in predicting OA related pain, physical performance and self-report function and findings suggest, that both central and peripheral processes are linked to SPA. Future research will need to explore whether SPA may prove valuable in predicting which patients are most like to respond well to activity-based treatments and could have implications for clinical practice. > From: Wildeman et al., Pain, 155 (2014) 703-711. All rights reserved to the International Association for the Study of Pain.

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