Current Issue

New insights into the pain of knee osteoarthritis: the characteristics of deep pain and abnormal central processing

CHEN Mu-Lan^1,2, DU Yu-Qing^3,4, XU Bo-Yang^3,4, ZHAO Feng^3,4, HU Xiao-Qing^3,4, WANG Yun^1,2, ZHANG Ying^1,2,*

¹Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China；²Neuroscience Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China；³Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China；⁴Sports Medicine Institute of Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing 100191, China

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) represents one of the most common causes of chronic pain. The high prevalence and disability rates of KOA impose a severe burden on both individuals and society. In contrast to cutaneous pain, KOA-induced joint pain is characterized as a deep tissue pain that potentially involves distinct subgroups of peripheral sensory neurons and central processing mechanisms. Furthermore, KOA pain is closely related to locomotion activity. Impaired sensorimotor integration and pain mutually reinforce each other in KOA, forming a vicious cycle that exacerbates disease progression. In this review, we highlight the key differences between KOA pain and cutaneous pain, and the latter has been extensively studied in the pain field. We hope to offer new insights into the central mechanisms and development of new treatment strategies for KOA based on the interactions between impaired sensorimotor integration and chronic joint pain.

Key words: chronic pain; joint pain; sensorimotor integration; interoception; neuroplasticity

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 张瑛　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2026.0004

Citing This Article：

CHEN Mu-Lan, DU Yu-Qing, XU Bo-Yang, ZHAO Feng, HU Xiao-Qing, WANG Yun, ZHANG Ying. New insights into the pain of knee osteoarthritis: the characteristics of deep pain and abnormal central processing. Acta Physiol Sin 2026; 78 (1): 47-56