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The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society “evaluated medications prescribed for pain pre- and post withdrawal to determine if there was an association with fall events among elderly patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.” The authors enrolled 13,354 patients, aged 65–89, with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) who were examined for fall fractures in association with analgesic prescriptions.  The authors conclude that “Narcotic analgesic prescriptions were associated with a significantly increased risk of falls/fractures.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging designed a “new shoe insole and explored the effectiveness of the insole in improving balance and alleviating foot pain in healthy older adults.” The authors enrolled older adult patients age 65 and older without abnormal gait patterns, or lower limb deformities. Each participant was assigned to good- and poor-stability groups and were required to wear the insole for 8 weeks. The authors found that “a heel cup with arch support insole is effective in enhancing the standing balance of the elderly,” and that it “may be of benefit in [...]

The authors of a recent study published in International Journal of Audiology “evaluated the occurrence of 27 chronic medical conditions in a cohort of older adults with and without hearing impairment, and to examine the association between these conditions and hearing ability.” The authors enrolled 890 hearing-impaired and 975 normal-hearing participants and found that “dizziness causing falling, diabetes and arthritis were significantly associated with poor hearing ability.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in Arthritis Research and Therapy described the “cross-sectional associations between popliteal cysts, pain, knee symptoms and structural abnormalities in older adults.” The authors enrolled 900 older adults who completed a questionnaire that assessed knee pain, stiffness, and dysfunction. The results indicate that “popliteal cysts were significantly associated with increased weight-bearing knee pain” among older adults. Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in BMC Geriatrics evaluated the “association between falls and chronic pain in order to determine whether pain is associated with a greater risk of falling.” The authors enrolled 16, 357 community-dwelling older adults who were age 65 and older. The authors found that fall risk was significantly greater in individuals who reported high pain intensity. Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in Complementary Therapy in Medicine examined the effects of “massage with aromatic ginger oil (SMGO) on chronic low back pain and disability in older adults compared with traditional Thai massage (TTM).” The authors enrolled 140 older adults patients who were randomly selected to participate in either the SMGO group or the TTM group. The authors found that both “SMGO and TTM led to significant improvements in pain intensity and disability, indicating immediate, short- and long-term effectiveness,” and that, “the integration of either SMGO or TTM therapy as additional options to provide holistic care to [...]

The authors of a recent study published in Arthritis and Rheumatology “identified factors associated with increased risk for developing wide spread pain in adults age 50 and older.” The authors administered a baseline questionnaire to 4,326 participants with pain. The questionnaire assessed psychological status, lifestyle and health behaviors, and sociodemographic and clinical factors that may influence pain symptoms. The authors found that a lack of sleep was the strongest independent predictor of new-onset wide spread pain among older adults. Full Story

The American Psychologist recently featured a study that provided information on “(a) the evidence base for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as applied to chronic pain, (b) recent innovations in target populations and delivery methods that expand the application of CBT to underserved populations, (c) current limitations and knowledge gaps, and (d) promising directions for improving CBT efficacy and access for people living with chronic pain.” The authors found “evidence for efficacy in improving pain and pain-related problems across a wide spectrum of chronic pain syndromes in older adults.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy “set out to determine the prevalence and impact of shoulder symptoms and dysfunction in an older adult veteran population.” The authors performed chart reviews and administered cross-sectional surveys to 93 older adults recruited from a primary outpatient clinic. The study results indicate that shoulder pain may have a considerable impact on older adults and that, “defining risk factors, devising new management strategies for patients with symptomatic shoulder disease will become increasingly important.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in American Psychologist conducted a literature review to “provide a broad overview of the scope and impact of persistent pain in older people and to discuss mechanisms by which persistent geriatric pain can lead to suffering and disability.” The authors reviewed  “differences between older and younger people in terms of pain perception, the social network, beliefs about pain, pain-related coping, and adherence to pain medication.” The authors found “a need for greater provider training in pain management to meet the needs of a changing U.S. population.” Full Story