Effectiveness of Pain Science Education in People With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

Pain science training will be carried out as described by Moseley and Butler. Topics covered within the scope of pain science education are planned to include: neurophysiology of pain, synapses, peripheral sensitization, central sensitization, plasticity of the nervous system. The aim of the training will be to teach participants that pain is a multifactorial experience rather than just tissue injury. Participants in this group will be told about the importance of physical activity integrated with pain science education (i.e., explaining that physical activity is the key to bioplasticity and causing changes in our system) and why sedentary behaviors should be reduced (reducing sedentary behaviors reduces the overprotectiveness of the pain system).

Participants in this group will be planned to increase their knowledge of knee anatomy, knowledge of knee OA and knee OA risk factors, and the importance of increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in reducing osteoarthritic pain and improving overall health. The importance of physical activity by integrating it with biomedical education (as physical activity can help strengthen muscles, protect joint function, and improve sleep and general health) and the necessity of reducing sedentary behaviors will be discussed within the framework of biomedical education.The main difference of standard education from pain science education will be that it does not contain information about pain mechanisms mentioned in pain science education.