Name and Surname: prof. Nejc Šarabon, PhD
Links: ARIS 21495, LINKEDIN
E-mail: nejc.sarabon@fvz.upr.si

Research facility (research activity location)
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences

Research field according to ARIS classification
Science: Social sciences
Field: Sport
Subfield: Kinesiology – medical aspect (orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation,..)

Summary of research topic and field
Mentoring of a young researcher under the Public Call for Young Researchers at the University of Primorska in 2024.

More information on the website: https://www.upr.si/en/about-university/open-calls–tenders/call-for-employment/5291-

Topic: THE POTENTIAL OF A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH IN OPTIMISING CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a chronic degenerative disease of the articular cartilage, accompanied with several simptoms. In addition to ageing and mechanical stress, growing evidence suggests that metabolic mediators also contribute to the onset and progression of the disease. Pain is the most common complaint and a central factor of reduced health-related quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Previous research has found that people with osteoarthritis spend more than half of their waking time sedentary. In addition, chronic pain patients with higher levels of sedentariness have been found to report more intense pain compared to those with lower levels of sedentariness. Assuming that high sedentariness is due to high pain intensity, it is important to focus research activity in the management of patients with knee osteoarthritis on pain management during movement or exercise. Promoting physical activity in patients with knee osteoarthritis is one of the fundamental methods of managing these patients. The work of the PhD student will start with a systematic literature revie. Further cross-sectional comparative analyses will serve as a starting point for the main intervention study. The main study will focus on the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who experience high pain intensity, especially when performing physical activity, and present a particular clinical challenge within an active conservative management approach. The intervention will focus on a biopsychosocial approach, including educational strategies such as pain neuroscience education and the use of virtual reality to distract from pain during physical activity.