Osteoarthritis and Social Embarrassment: Risk, Pain, and Avoidance. (27th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kabel, Allison; Dannecker, Erin Alice; Shaffer, Victoria A.; Mocca, Katie C.; Murray, Aimee M.
• Is Part Of: SAGE Open. Volume 4:Number 2(2014:Apr./Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2014-05-27
• Subjects: knee osteoarthritis -- pain -- activity avoidance; Social sciences -- Periodicals; 300.5
• DOI: 10.1177/2158244014537649
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2158-2440

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain from osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent concern for older adults. Despite recommendations from providers to be physically active, some people with OA fear physical activity and must decide whether it is safe or harmful to undertake physical activity. In this article, we examined the narratives of 10 people living with OA knee pain and the roles that pain and embarrassment played in their activity-related behavior. When asked about their physical activity, 6 of the 10 participants reported some type of embarrassment-related experience. Responses fell into two key categories: (a) embarrassment-related experience from engaging in activity or (b) embarrassment-related experience from avoiding activity. These categories contained subgroups of those seeking to avoid embarrassment and those seeking to avoid pain. Response clusters helped to contextualize the activity behavior of people with knee OA pain as it relates to social identity by providing examples of individuals resisting life disruption.