Age Interactions on Pain Sensitization in Patients With Severe Knee Osteoarthritis and Controls

This study investigated the influence of age on pressure hyperalgesia, TSP, and CPM in patients with KOA and controls. Materials and Methods: One hundred thirty-three severe KOA patients and 50 age-matched and sex-matched asymptomatic controls were assessed by cuff algometry and handheld pressure algometry. Pain sensitivity was assessed around the head of the gastrocnemius muscle to identify mild pain detection threshold (MPDT) and pressure tolerance threshold (PTT). TSP was assessed by visual analogue scale scores of the pain evoked by 10 repetitive cuff stimulations. CPM was assessed as the difference in PTT before and during cuff-induced tonic arm pain. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed by handheld algometry at the tibialis anterior muscle. Two subgroups were analyzed in the age range below and above 65 years. Pearson correlations between age and pain parameters were applied. Results: Patients demonstrated reduced MPDT, PTT, and PPT (P
Source: The Clinical Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research