OBJECTIVES:: This study determined if individuals with mild knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) experience hyperalgesia and central sensitization by comparing them to age and sex-matched control participants and determined if these levels are associated with pain intensity. This study also determined if these individuals experience significantly poorer quality of life than age and sex-matched controls and if pain and function predict quality of life.
METHODS:: Quantitative sensory tests (QST), including punctate pain intensity (PPI), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and heat pain threshold, tolerance, and temporal summation, were measured in 75 individuals with mild knee OA pain and 25 age and sex-matched controls. Pain intensity, walking function and quality of life were also assessed.
RESULTS:: Significant differences were found for PPI at all sites, for PPT at the affected knee and for quality of life. QST measures significantly correlated with pain intensity. Pain, but not function, predicted quality of life.
DISCUSSION:: Individuals with mild knee pain due to OA experience mechanical (but not thermal) hyperalgesia that relates to pain intensity. They have a reduced quality of life that is predicted by pain intensity. More aggressive pain management for mild knee OA pain is indicated to improve the quality of life for individuals who are not yet candidates for joint replacement.