Individual Differences in Gait and Osteoarthritis Pain

This observational study will identify biopsychosocial factors that contribute to inter-individual differences in walking pain and pain limiting walking with the hypothesis that neural processes play a key role. This study's objective is to elucidate "whole person" biopsychosocial mechanisms of movement-evoked pain and pain limitations on function in knee OA, helping to determine why some patients have severe disabling pain while others do not despite similar degenerative changes of the knee joint. Three hundred participants with knee OA will undergo a comprehensive data collection over two study visits, including surveys, exercise tasks, non-invasive brain and joint imaging, and biomechanics assessments during mobility. Using advanced analysis, this dataset will be used to identify factors contributing to walking-evoked pain and functional limitations in knee osteoarthritis.These results will identify new therapeutic targets to maintain or improve physical activity in patients with knee osteoarthritis, leading to better outcomes of physical therapy and improved overall health and well-being.