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Pain and disability in osteoarthritis: A review of biobehavioral mechanisms

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Abstract

Pain and disability are cardinal symptoms in osteoarthritis. The literature is reviewed in order to identify causes of these symptoms at the articular, kinesiological, and psychological level. It is concluded that pain and disability are associated with degeneration of cartilage and bone (articular level), with muscle weakness and limitations in joint motion (kinesiological level), and with anxiety, coping style, attentional focus on symptoms, and possibly depression (psychological level). Biobehavioral mechanisms of pain and disability which explain the observed associations are described and the empirical evidence for these mechanisms is evaluated. Methodological and conceptual deficiencies in the research reviewed are pointed out and suggestions for further research are given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care, P.O. Box 1568, 3500, BN Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Joost Dekker

  2. Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Bob Boot & Luc H. V. van der Woude

  3. Department of Rheumatology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    J. W. J. Bijlsma

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  1. Joost Dekker
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  2. Bob Boot
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  3. Luc H. V. van der Woude
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  4. J. W. J. Bijlsma
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Dekker, J., Boot, B., van der Woude, L.H.V. et al. Pain and disability in osteoarthritis: A review of biobehavioral mechanisms. J Behav Med 15, 189–214 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848325

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