Neural and psychosocial contributions to sex differences in knee osteoarthritic pain

Kathleen A Sluka; Karen J Berkley; Mary I O’Connor; Daniel P Nicolella; Roger M Enoka; Barbara D Boyan; David A Hart; Eileen Resnick; C Kent Kwoh; Laura L Tosi; Richard D Coutts; Wendy M Kohrt

doi:10.1186/2042-6410-3-26

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Neural and psychosocial contributions to sex differences in knee osteoarthritic pain

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Neural and psychosocial contributions to sex differences in knee osteoarthritic pain

Kathleen A Sluka, Karen J Berkley, Mary I O’Connor, Daniel P Nicolella, Roger M Enoka, Barbara D Boyan, David A Hart, Eileen Resnick, C Kent Kwoh, Laura L Tosi, …

Biology of sex differences, Vol.3(1), pp.26-26

2012

DOI: 10.1186/2042-6410-3-26

PMCID: PMC3583673

PMID: 23244577

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Abstract

People with osteoarthritis (OA) can have significant pain that interferes with function and quality of life. Women with knee OA have greater pain and greater reductions in function and quality of life than men. In many cases, OA pain is directly related to sensitization and activation of nociceptors in the injured joint and correlates with the degree of joint effusion and synovial thickening. In some patients, however, the pain does not match the degree of injury and continues after removal of the nociceptors with a total joint replacement. Growth of new nociceptors, activation of nociceptors in the subchondral bone exposed after cartilage degradation, and nociceptors innervating synovium sensitized by inflammatory mediators could all augment the peripheral input to the central nervous system and result in pain. Enhanced central excitability and reduced central inhibition could lead to prolonged and enhanced pain that does not directly match the degree of injury. Psychosocial variables can influence pain and contribute to pain variability. This review explores the neural and psychosocial factors that contribute to knee OA pain with an emphasis on differences between the sexes and gaps in knowledge.

Nociceptor

Psychosocial

Pain

Catastrophizing

Central sensitization

Sex differences

Review

Gender

Osteoarthritis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Neural and psychosocial contributions to sex differences in knee osteoarthritic pain
Creators: Kathleen A Sluka - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Karen J Berkley - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Mary I O’Connor - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Daniel P Nicolella - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Roger M Enoka - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Barbara D Boyan - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
David A Hart - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Eileen Resnick - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
C Kent Kwoh - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Laura L Tosi - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Richard D Coutts - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Wendy M Kohrt - Isis Research Network on Musculoskeletal Health, Iowa City, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Biology of sex differences, Vol.3(1), pp.26-26
DOI: 10.1186/2042-6410-3-26
PMID: 23244577
PMCID: PMC3583673
NLM abbreviation: Biol Sex Differ
ISSN: 2042-6410
eISSN: 2042-6410
Publisher: BioMed Central
Language: English
Date published: 2012
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984040277702771

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