ArticleCureus2025
Pain Relief Improves Key Motor Functions in Refractory Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effects of platelet-rich plasma-assisted arthroscopic debridement plus microfracture surgery on visual analogue scale scores and cartilage repair indicators in early-stage knee osteoarthritis.American journal of translational research · 2026Article
- Kinesiophobia and alexithymia in knee osteoarthritis: association with radiological severity.PeerJ · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAdvanced knee osteoarthritis (KOA) severely impacts function and quality of life. While pain reduction is thought to improve motor function, the direct relationship remains unclear, especially in refractory cases. This study investigated the impact of pain relief following intra-articular diclofenac-etalhyaluronate (DF-HA) on motor function in advanced KOA patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.
methodsThis retrospective study included 100 knees (82 patients, Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade III/ IV) who received DF-HA. Patients were categorized into an Improved Group (IM-G, n= 88 knees) and a Non-Improved Group (Non-IM-G, n= 12 knees) based on visual analog scale (VAS) pain score changes 3-7 days post-injection. Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score for Osteoarthritis of the Knee (JOAS), range of motion (ROM), quadriceps femoris strength (QF), and single-legged stance (SLS) were assessed pre- and post-injection. Non-parametric tests compared changes within and between groups.
resultsIn the IM-G, significant improvements were observed in JOAS (p< 0.001), ROM (p< 0.001), QF (p< 0.001), and SLS (p = 0.003). Conversely, the Non-IM-G showed no significant changes in JOAS, ROM, or QF, but a significant improvement in SLS (p = 0.024).
conclusionAggressive pain management with DF-HA significantly improved key motor functions in advanced KOA patients experiencing pain relief. However, balance improvement may involve mechanisms beyond pain reduction. These findings highlight the importance of pain control in improving motor function in refractory KOA.
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