Association between lifestyle and musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study among 10,000 adults from the general working population

Abstract

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal pain is a major cause of work disability and sickness absence. While pain is a multifactorial phenomenon being influenced by work as well as lifestyle, less is known about the association between specific lifestyle factors and the type of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the study was to investigate if a dose-response association existed between lifestyle factors and musculoskeletal pain intensity in the low back and neck-shoulder.MethodsCurrently employed wage earners (N = 10,427) replied in 2010 to questions about work environment, lifestyle and health. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for various confounders tested the association of alcohol intake, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking (explanatory variables) with low back pain and neck-shoulder pain intensity (outcomes variables, scale 0–9, where ≥4 is high pain).ResultsThe minimally adjusted model found that physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake were associated with lower risk of musculoskeletal pain, while smoking was associated with higher risk of musculoskeletal pain. In the fully adjusted model, physical activity ≥5 h per week was associated with lower risk of low back pain and neck-shoulder pain with risk ratios (RR) of 0.95 (95% CI 0.90–1.00) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.82–0.99), respectively. No association was found between alcohol intake and pain.ConclusionBeing physically active associated with lower risk of having musculoskeletal pain, while smoking habits and healthy eating were associated with higher pain when adjusting for age and gender. Considering the continuously increasing retirement age in many societies, initiatives to promote healthy habits should still be a political priority to help the workers to stay healthy and cope to their work.

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Iranian Spinner Workers in the Textile Industry and its Association With Demographic and Lifestyle Characteristics

“…The obtained data suggested that a history of smoking provided no statistically significant effect on the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms; however, descriptive analysis data revealed that this factor increased the prevalence of shoulders and lower back symptoms. Some previous researchers have reported the relation between smoking habits and MSDs [34,35]. The probable cause of the obtained result in our study was related to the low frequency (7%) of smokers in this study.…”

No Evidence for a Decrease in Physical Activity Among Swiss Office Workers During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study

“…In addition, the level of physical activity is associated with the risk of a community-acquired pneumonia in women, with pneumonia being a major complication of COVID-19 ( Baik et al, 2000 ). It is also known that greater physical activity is associated with a lower risk of musculoskeletal pain ( Kirsch Micheletti et al, 2019 ) and improves mental health issues, such as mood and depression, which is particularly relevant during social isolation ( Hammig et al, 2011 ; Cooney et al, 2013 ; McDowell et al, 2019 ; Denay et al, 2020 ; Meyer et al, 2020 ). Physical activity in fact has been shown to be similarly effective as psychological therapy and drug therapy in depression ( Cooney et al, 2013 ).…”

Health-Related Exposures and Conditions among US Fishermen

“…Both smoking and second-hand smoke exposures were relatively common among fishermen, increasing the risk of smoking-associated health disorders, including musculoskeletal conditions. [35][36][37] Fishing generally requires continuous work for extended hours that may promote smoking. 20,38 A study in Washington State found significantly higher cigarette and marijuana smoking rates among fishers compared to the general population.…”