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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Disability due to knee pain and somatising tendency in Japanese adults

Authors: Tomoko Fujii, Hiroyuki Oka, Junji Katsuhira, Juichi Tonosu, Satoshi Kasahara, Sakae Tanaka, Ko Matsudaira

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Knee pain is common and related to knee osteoarthritis. However, there is a discrepancy between knee pain and radiographic osteoarthritis. In the general population, knee pain is associated with psychological and cognitive factors, which would be one explanation for the discrepancy. Limited evidence demonstrates that somatization is associated with knee pain. This study examined the association between disability due to knee pain and a high somatising tendency.

Methods

Japanese adults (aged 20–64 years) who had experienced knee pain in the past four weeks were included in this study (n = 14,695, 50% women). Data were extracted from a large internet survey. Somatising tendency was assessed using the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8). Disability due to knee pain was categorized into three levels: 1) knee pain without difficulty with activities of daily living (ADL), 2) knee pain with ADL difficulty but without requiring sick leave, and 3) knee pain requiring sick leave. The association between ≥ high somatising tendency (SSS-8 score ≥ 12) as well as very high somatising tendency (SSS-8 score ≥ 16) and disability due to knee pain was examined using logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, depressive symptoms, education level, regular exercise, chronicity of knee pain (≥3 months), osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Results

Greater disability due to knee pain was associated with a higher odds ratio for ≥ high somatising tendency (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.36 [2.10–2.66] in group 2 vs. group 1, aOR = 3.23 [2.66–3.92] in group 3 vs. group 1). Stronger associations were found for a very high somatising tendency (aOR = 2.80 [2.42–3.23] in group 2 vs. group 1, aOR = 4.51 [3.64–5.58] in group 3 vs. group 1).

Conclusions

Somatization may play a role in disability due to knee pain in the general adult population with knee pain, similar to the role of somatization in low back pain.
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Metadata
Title
Disability due to knee pain and somatising tendency in Japanese adults
Authors
Tomoko Fujii
Hiroyuki Oka
Junji Katsuhira
Juichi Tonosu
Satoshi Kasahara
Sakae Tanaka
Ko Matsudaira
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-1940-y

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