Knee pain may be linked to pain elsewhere, researchers find

People with knee pain are more likely to develop pain in other joints, says a study in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Scientists studied people aged 50–79 years who had knee osteoarthritis or were at high risk of it and followed them for 5–7 years. Those with knee pain at the start of the study were excluded.

A total of 693 people with knee pain at the first follow-up examination were compared to 2,793 without it. The team found that:

• 50% of people without knee pain had pain during follow-up in a joint region outside the knee;
• 80% of those with bilateral knee pain had pain during follow-up in a joint region outside the knee;
• 64% of people with unilateral knee pain had pain during follow-up in a joint region outside the knee.
• An increased risk of pain was present in most extremity joint sites without a predilection for specific sites.

The researchers conclude:

“Persons with chronic knee pain are at increased risk of pain in multiple joints in no specific pattern.”

Click here to read the original research

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