Localized Multi-Site Knee Bioimpedance as a Predictor for Knee Osteoarthritis Associated Pain Within Older Adults During Free-Living

The drastic increase in the aging population has increased the prevalence of osteoarthritis in the United States. The ability to monitor symptoms of osteoarthritis (such as pain) within a free-living environment could improve understanding of each person's experiences with this disease and provide opportunities to personalize treatments specific to each person and their experience. In this work, localized knee tissue bioimpedance and self-reports of knee pain were collected from older adults ($N=20$) with and without knee osteoarthritis over 7 days of free-living to evaluate if knee tissue bioimpedance is associated with persons' knee pain experience. Within the group of persons' with knee osteoarthritis increases in 128 kHz per-length resistance and decreases in 40 kHz per-length reactance were associated with increased probability of persons having active knee pain ($p=0.038$ and $p=0.044$).

Automated summary

The increase in the aging population has led to a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis in the US. Monitoring symptoms of osteoarthritis in a free-living environment can improve understanding of the disease and personalize treatments. This study collected knee tissue bioimpedance and self-reported knee pain data to evaluate their association in older adults with and without knee osteoarthritis.