Relationship between the affective dimension of pain and site of the disorder: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a complex experience with both sensory and affective dimensions, and the affective dimension can increase the risks of chronic pain development. It is thus critical to identify factors influencing the affective dimension of pain. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the relationship between the affective dimension of pain and disorder site (primary pain source). METHODS: Study participants were recruited from patients referred for physical therapy at an orthopedic outpatient clinic. Pain quality including the affective dimension, disorder site from descriptive medical diagnosis, pain intensity, duration from pain onset, and demographic data, was collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the relationship between the affective dimension of pain and the disorder site. RESULTS: A total of 282 participants were included. Cervical and lumbar spine disorders were significantly associated with an affective dimension of pain compared to limbs disorders when adjusted for age, sex, pain intensity, and duration from the onset in the regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of duration from the onset and other confounding factors, disorder site is correlated with the affective dimension of pain. Multidimensional pain assessment is crucial when clinicians evaluate patients with cervical and lumbar spine disorders, even in the acute phase.

Gender differences in the restoration of knee joint biomechanics during gait after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of gender on recovery of knee joint biomechanics over the stance phase of gait after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). METHODS: Gait parameters and knee joint kinematics and kinetics were compared in 32 patients (16 male and 16 female) who underwent ACL reconstruction for a unilateral ACL deficiency, with comparison to an age-, height-, and weight-matched Control group. Knee flexion, adduction and tibial rotation angles were measured and knee extension and abduction moment was calculated by inverse dynamics methods. RESULTS: Females exhibited more tibial external rotation, in both the Control and ACL groups (P<0.05), which was not changed after ACL reconstruction. Prior to reconstruction, sagittal plane biomechanics were changed, in both males and females, compared to the Control groups (P<0.05). These abnormal sagittal plane mechanics were recovered at 12months, but not six months post-reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: We identified gender-based differences in tibial rotation that influenced the kinematics and kinetics of the knee over the stance phase of gait, both pre-operatively and post-ACL reconstruction. Evaluation of biomechanical effects of ACL injury, before and after reconstruction, should be separately evaluated for females and males.