Correlation between body mass index and joint pain intensity with gait performance in individuals with osteoarthritis

HIGHLIGHTS High body mass index was correlated with the presence of pain and lower gait performance in individuals with osteoarthritis. High pain intensity was correlated with lower gait performance in individuals with osteoarthritis. Senior individuals and those with osteoarthritis had the highest pain intensity and the worst gait performance in this study. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) often have joint pain and are overweight or obese. Thus, the objective of this study was to observe whether there is correlation between body mass index and joint pain intensity with gait performance in individuals with OA. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, which evaluated 60 volunteers, being 30 with clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis and 30 without the disease, of both sexes and aged between 50-82 years. Joint pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, gait-related functional tasks using the Dynamic Gait Index, and the functional mobility using the Timed Up and Go test. RESULTS: There was a correlation between overweight/obesity and high levels of joint pain intensity (p=0.018), with worse performance in gait-related functional tasks (p=0.000) and with worse functional mobility (p=0.034) only for the individuals with OA. High levels of joint pain intensity also correlated with worse performance in the gait-related functional tasks (p=0.000) in the OA group, and also with worse functional mobility in the OA group (p=0.001) and also in the group of individuals without the disease (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: This study identified a correlation between overweight/obesity and high levels of joint pain intensity and worse gait performance in individuals with osteoarthritis. High levels of pain intensity also correlated with worse gait performance in individuals with OA.