The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pain, Physical Activity, and Anxiety in Individuals with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has many features that can potentially trigger and increase chronic pain. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the pandemic on pain, physical activity and anxiety in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain, in both periods of isolation and controlled social life. Methods: Seventy one individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain were included in the study. Three different periods (pre-pandemic, isolation and controlled social life) were evaluated and analyzed. Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)), coronavirus anxiety (Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form (CAS-SF)), and physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF)) were evaluated. Results: The VAS resting score was significantly higher during the isolation compared to the pre-pandemic period (p = 0.002). The VAS activity score was significantly higher in the isolation period compared to both pre-pandemic (p <0.001) and controlled social life periods (p <0.001). The lowest IPAQ-SF score (p <0.001) and the longest sitting time (p <0.001) were in the isolation period. The CAS-SF scores were significantly higher in the isolation period compared to the controlled social life period (p <0.001). Conclusion: While the measures taken during the isolation period had negative impacts on the severity of pain, physical activity and anxiety levels in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain, gradual deconfinement in the controlled social life period led to a decrease in pain intensity and anxiety and an increase in physical activity.

Has the COVID 19 Pandemic Impacted the Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?

“…Thirteen studies with 13,372 participants evaluated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with varied chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. The sample size ranged from 71 to 3502; 45-91% of patients were female.…”

“…Twelve of the 13 studies reported increased pain severity and disease activity during the pandemic [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51][52]. Decreased physical activity correlated to worsened pain in seven studies [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52].…”

“…Twelve of the 13 studies reported increased pain severity and disease activity during the pandemic [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51][52]. Decreased physical activity correlated to worsened pain in seven studies [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. High levels of psychological distress were common [2,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51] and poor mental health correlated to worsened pain in eleven studies [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51].…”

“…Decreased physical activity correlated to worsened pain in seven studies [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. High levels of psychological distress were common [2,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51] and poor mental health correlated to worsened pain in eleven studies [2,8,25,[43][44][45][46][48][49][50][51]. A case-control study by Fallon et al compared chronic pain patients to a healthy control group during the pandemic.…”