Test-retest reliability and validity of movement-evoked pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a methodological study protocol.

Abstract

Pain experienced during functional activities, referred to as movement-evoked pain (MEP), is a common and disabling symptom in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Unlike pain at rest, MEP may better reflect the real-life burden of KOA and is increasingly recognised as a core outcome in musculoskeletal pain trials. However, its clinical utility remains limited by a lack of evidence on its measurement properties. This study aims to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of MEP assessments during functional tasks in individuals with KOA. This study includes two components: (1) a test-retest reliability assessment conducted over two sessions separated by approximately 7 days and (2) a cross-sectional analysis of convergent validity. We will recruit 62 participants with symptomatic KOA from the local communities. MEP will be assessed using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale during five standardised functional tasks: 30-Second Chair Stand Test, One-Step Stair Climb Test, 40m Fast-Paced Walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test and Six-Minute Walk Test. Test-retest reliability will be evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC_3,1). Convergent validity will be assessed separately for each functional task by calculating correlation coefficients between MEP ratings and the pain subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee from Shanghai University of Sport (Ref: 102772025RT193). The study protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework (10.17605/OSF.IO/B9N7G). The findings will be disseminated through presentations at national and international scientific conferences and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.