Older Americans are reporting more knee pain and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, according to findings published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Framingham Osteoarthritis study to test the hypothesis that the increase in obesity is responsible for the increased pain. They found pain increased 65 percent in the NHANES population from 1974-1994 among non-Hispanic white and Mexican American men and women and African American women. In the FOA population, knee osteoarthritis doubled in women and tripled in men over 20 years.
The researchers concluded that the rise in obesity only accounted for part of the increase. Lead researcher Uyen-Sa D.T. Nguyen, Boston University School of Medicine, said the increase might be because people are more willing to report pain now.
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The researchers concluded that the rise in obesity only accounted for part of the increase. Lead researcher Uyen-Sa D.T. Nguyen, Boston University School of Medicine, said the increase might be because people are more willing to report pain now.
Related Articles on Pain Management:
Dr. James Gruft: Healthcare Reform Could Revolutionize Chronic Pain Patient Care
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Spine Pain Management Opens Sixth Regional Diagnostic Center in Sarasota, Fla.