The Relationship between Global Pain Severity and Gait Speed in Older Adults with Multisite Pain

Abstract

Lower extremity function is affected by the site and severity of chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults. However, it is unknown if pain severity is associated with walking speed in older adults who have multisite pain and are at risk of falling. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between global pain severity and gait speed in older adults with multisite pain and having a history of falling. METHODS: Thirty six community-dwelling older adults (77±8 years, 29 females and 7 males) with multisite pain (≥ 2 pain sites) who reported at least one fall in the past year or currently used an assistive device were recruited from the Boston area. Global pain severity was measured using the pain severity subscale (0-10) of the Brief Pain Inventory. Gait speed (m/s) was assessed by the better of two trials of a timed 4-m usual-pace walk. Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to assess the association between pain severity and gait speed. RESULTS: The average pain severity was 4.89±1.70, and the average gait speed was 0.99±0.31 m/s. Gait speed was negatively associated with pain severity (r=-0.30, p=0.07). This association was diminished after multivariable adjustment in linear regression. CONCLUSION: Gait speed tended to be associated with global pain severity in older adults with multisite pain and having a history of falling. This preliminary finding needs to be further confirmed in an analysis with a larger sample size. (Supported by NIH Grant R21 AG043883)