Evaluation of symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee indicates severe pain, tightness, limited joint mobility, including
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Joint pain (Pain Dimension)
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Joint stiffness (Stiffness Dimension)
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Joint function (Function Dimension)
1. Joint pain (Pain Dimension)
- Knee pain while walking in walking posture on flat surfaces, such as walking in a shopping mall, how much knee pain do you experience?
- Knee pain while using stairs After you use the stairs for one floor, how much knee pain do you experience? If the pain varies when going up or down the stairs, record at the part that hurts more.
- Knee pain at night During the night, do you experience knee pain that disturbs your sleep?
- Knee pain while resting In a resting posture or while sitting still without standing or walking, how much knee pain do you experience?
- Knee pain while standing weight bearing How much pain do you experience if you stand bearing weight on the leg that hurts without moving the knee?
2. Joint stiffness (Stiffness Dimension) Your joint stiffness or tightness at different times of the day
- Morning stiffness (When waking up) Can you move your knees well upon waking up in the morning? How stiff do your knees feel?
- Stiffness during the day During the day when you work, if you change postures, such as from sitting to standing or from standing to walking, can you move your knees well? Do you feel like your knees are glued or feel particularly stiff?
(Note: Some people feel more stiffness in the morning, while others feel more stiffness during the day.)
3. Joint function (Function Dimension) Your ability to use your joints in various postures
- Going down stairs Do you have difficulty going down stairs? Are you able to do it smoothly compared to when you were younger?
- Going up stairs Do you have difficulty going up stairs? Are you able to do it smoothly compared to when you were younger?
- Getting up from a sitting position Do you have difficulty changing your posture from sitting (in a chair) to standing? Are you able to do it smoothly compared to when you were younger?
- Standing Do you have difficulty standing? Can you stand for long? Compared to your ability when you were younger.
- Walking on flat surfaces Do you have difficulty walking on flat surfaces, such as walking in a shopping mall?
- Getting in and out of a car How much difficulty do you have with the posture of getting in and out from a car or public transport compared to when you were younger?
- Going shopping Can you go to the market or supermarket, shop as you used to when you were younger?
(Note: For those who answered they no longer go because it is unnecessary, ask if they could go how well they could manage it.) - Putting on pants Do you have difficulty putting on pants (underwear or outerwear)? Can you stand and wear them as before?
- Getting out of bed Do you have difficulty changing your posture from lying down to sitting up on the bed?
- Taking off pants Do you have difficulty taking off your pants (underwear or outerwear)? Can you stand and take them off as before, or do you have to sit down to do it?
- Showering by yourself Do you have difficulty showering? Do you need someone to help you?
- Sitting Do you have difficulty changing your posture from standing to sitting in a chair (not on the floor)?
- Using the toilet Do you have difficulty using the toilet (the one you regularly use)? Compared to your ability when you were younger, is it difficult to sit down or get up from the bowl?
- Doing heavy household chores Do you have difficulty with heavy household chores, such as cleaning the bathroom, washing the car, watering plants in the garden, mopping, vacuuming, cutting grass, sweeping leaves, carrying or lifting heavy items, etc.
Can you do them smoothly as before? Compared to your ability when you were younger. - Doing light household chores Do you have difficulty with light household chores, such as cooking, washing dishes, dusting, wiping tables, arranging tables, etc. Can you do them smoothly as before?
Compared to your ability when you were younger.
References
- Kuptniratsaikul V, Rattanachaiyanont M. Validation of a Modified Thai version of the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index for Knee Osteoarthritis. Clin Rheumatol 2007; 26: 1641-5.
- Nicholus Bellamy. WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index.User guide VIII 2007: 71-3.
