Effects of Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain on the Pressure-Pain Thresholds and Proprioceptive Sense

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the chronic pain severity and pain duration in patients with osteoarthritis [OA] on pressure-pain threshold [PPT] and proprioception. Methods: The study groups consisted of patients with painful joints and healthy normal controls with painless joints. The chronic pain degree was evaluated with The Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire. The PPT was measured with a dolorimeter and proprioception was evaluated passively. Results: Sixty-three patients with OA, mean aged 55 ± 10.60 years, were included in this study. Twenty-four patients had knee arthritis, eight patients had hip arthritis, and 31 patients had shoulder arthritis. The patients with OA had experienced pain for a duration of 41.09 ± 53.35 [12 to 72] months. The PPT was decreased and joint position sense and kinesthesia were altered in the painful joint when compared with the painless joint [P < 0.05]. No correlation was found between age, body mass index, pain duration, pain intensity score and PPT, joint position sense, or kinesthesia [P > 0.05]. However, the chronic pain grade was correlated with PPT [r = −0.418], joint position sense [r = 0.445], and kinesthesia [r = 0.535]. Similarly, correlations were found between disability points and PPT [r = −0.369], joint position sense [r = 0.473], and kinesthesia [r = 0.505]. Conclusions: Chronic pain grade correlates inversely with PPT, but it correlates directly with joint position sense, and kinesthesia senses in patients with OA. However, pain duration and pain intensity do not correlate with PPT, joint position sense, or kinesthesia.