
However, a substantial number of OA patients have high pain reporting variability 7,8 that can be linked to fluctuation in symptoms 1. While the placebo effect is a significant issue in clinical trials using pain as an endpoint, inaccuracy in pain symptom reporting is also a significant issue. Pain intensity is a subjective phenomenon involving pathophysiological and biopsychosocial factors. In OA RCTs, most endpoints rely on patient reporting of pain using standard scales or questionnaires. If some scales (numerical rating scale (NRS), visual analog scale (VAS), and verbal rating scale (VRS)) have excellent test–retest reliability 6. The placebo response has been estimated to comprise approximately 44-68 % of the measured treatment effect in OA and other pain-related clinical trials 3,4. In RCTs, the amelioration of perceived pain by patients due to the placebo response can be so great that some experts have suggested that osteoarthritis patients may benefit from administration of placebo as a treatment option 5. OA is a major cause of disability and impaired quality of life. Although the disease presents a significant burden to patients, most do not receive the correct therapies or treatments 1. Osteoarthritis trials have relatively a rate of failure due to many factors, including disease heterogeneity, a disconnect between pain improvement and structural improvement, a strong placebo response, and high variability/inaccuracy in patient reporting of pain 2. Nevertheless, the subjective nature of pain experiences challenges research and care, making subjective measurements valuable tools in pain management.Osteoarthritis (OA) is common musculoskeletal disease with increased incidence and prevalence associated with aging. In fact, the costs of chronic pain in the US alone reach $550-625 billion per year ( Danise & Turk, 2013). Although pain experiences vary between individuals and cultures, pain can result in physical disability, emotional distress, and financial problems. Pain is a complex phenomenon which consists of multiple aspects, such as duration, intensity, and location. As pain is one of the most common medical concerns worldwide, effective measures and treatments become essential. Numeric rating scales (NRS) are popular subjective measures used to assess pain intensity. Balances, Scales and Weighing Equipment.
