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
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