Osteoarthritis and fear

Abstract

Osteoarthritis, a largely intractable health condition with incalculable health and financial and social costs and ramifications among many older adults remains an essentially intractable condition. Commonly instructed to exercise to combat pain, the role of fear is seldom discussed as an enormously influential exercise impediment in this regard. This mini review highlights aspects of the research that imply consideration of fears rather than exercise prescription alone may be more helpful than not in efforts to allay the enormous suffering experienced by most older adults diagnosed as having osteoarthritis of one or more joints.