Effect of locomotive syndrome on knee pain in severe knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Locomotive syndrome (LS) presents symptoms related to decreased mobility due to musculoskeletal disorders. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a significant public health concern linked to age-related musculoskeletal issues and is among the conditions contributing to LS. Age-related lower extremity muscle weakness exacerbates knee pain in KOA, but the impact of LS on knee pain is not clear, prompting the present investigation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 76 participants (152 knee joints) with bilateral severe KOA scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. The study investigated the association between the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain subscale and LS using a multiple linear regression model, which included covariates and scaled estimated regression coefficients.

Results: LS had a negative impact on KOOS pain (β: 0.35, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 24.08; -6.05) (p < 0.05) and high self-efficacy had a positive impact (β: 0.25, 95%CI: 1.27; 16.34) (p < 0.05). Age, gender, BMI, Kellgren-Lawrence grade, and Central Sensitization did not influence KOOS pain.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that LS negatively affected knee pain while self-efficacy positively affected it. LS has been attracting attention in relation to mobility, but the fact that it also affected the knee pain in severe KOA is an important clinical finding. Further research is required to focus on the relationship between the prevention and improvement of LS, and knee pain in severe KOA.