%0 Journal Article
%T Gender Differences in Pain Perception and Functional Ability in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis
%A M. Elboim-Gabyzon
%A N. Rozen
%A Y. Laufer
%J ISRN Orthopedics
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/413105
%X Background. There is no consensus regarding gender-related differences in pain intensity and functional abilities among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Objective. Determine gender-related differences in pain intensity and functional ability among subjects with knee OA, as assessed by a self-report questionnaire and by performance-based tests. Methods. Sixty-three subjects with symptomatic knee pain due to OA were included in this study. The outcome measures were self-reported knee pain intensity and physical function (WOMAC), as well as three performance-based functional assessments: time up and go test, a 10-meter walk test, and stair negotiation. Independent sample t-tests were performed to determine gender differences. Level of significance was set at . Results. Female subjects reported higher levels of knee pain and lower functional performance. In contrast, no significant gender-related differences were determined in any of the performance-based measures. Conclusion. The results indicate that the two types of functional ability measures may address different constructs of functional ability. Self-reported ability, particularly in the female subjects, may be influenced by psychological aspects associated with chronic pain. Rehabilitation programs should consider the underlying mechanisms of the patients¡¯ performance limitations in order to address the specific needs of each individual patient. 1. Introduction Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis in Western populations [1]. One of the known predisposing factors of knee OA is female gender, leading to a higher prevalence of symptomatic knee OA in female [1]. Pain is the most common impairment associated with knee OA [1], and knee OA is one of the main causes of long-term disability in people over 65, leading to moderate to severe limitations in participation and a reduction in quality of life [1]. Gender differences in the clinical status of subjects with chronic pain are likely to affect the patients¡¯ treatment-seeking behavior, the evaluation and treatment approach, and the responsiveness to treatment [2]. In spite of the higher prevalence of knee OA among women, gender-related differences among patients with knee OA have received little attention. Thus, there is no consensus in the literature on gender-related differences in pain level intensity reported by these patients [3, 4], and reports regarding gender-related differences in functional abilities are inconsistent [5, 6]. However, most of these studies have focused on self-report measures alone [7]. A
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.orthopedics/2012/413105/