Prevalence of Pain and Disability of the Spine and Joints in Selected Types of Sport: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: Joint and back pain are enormous and important clinical and public health problems that significantly affect people of all ages. Although the epidemiology of pain in the general population is well documented, less information is available in athletes. While in the general population joint and back pain have predominantly functional origin, in athletes, pain is a consequence of not only functional, but very often structural changes in the spine, joints, and related tissues. Depending on the sports specialization, character of the training activity, exercises, training load, and many other factors, athletes are exposed to various injuries accompanied by pain. (2) Aim: This study is aimed at evaluating the prevalence of spinal and limb injuries, and back pain and joint pain among athletes of various specializations. A questionnaire survey on back pain, quality of life, and physical activity will be used to collect data from Slovak athletes. The outcomes of the survey will be compared to a physically active group. This article presents a study protocol that aims to evaluate the relationship between back pain and injury prevalence in athletes of various specializations.

Variations in pain prevalence, severity, and analgesic use by duration of survivorship: a cross-sectional study of 505 post-treatment head and neck cancer survivors

Background Studies suggest a high prevalence of pain in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients at diagnosis, during and after treatment; however, these studies had small sample sizes and did not comprehensively assess factors known to influence pain. We surveyed a large cohort of HNC survivors to determine variations in the prevalence of pain, its treatment and management by duration of survivorship, and assessed a comprehensive list of risk factors. Methods A cross sectional survey of post-treatment survivors of HNC during routine follow-up clinic visits. Results A total of 505 HNC survivors with a median follow up of 3 years from cancer diagnosis were included in the study. Overall, 45% (n = 224) reported pain and 14.5, 22 and 7% reported use of prescribed pain medication, over-the-counter pain medication and alternative pain therapies, respectively. Prevalence of severe pain was 7.3% and did not vary significantly by years of survivorship (< 1 year = 5.7%; 1 to < 3 years = 7.1%; 3 to < 8 years = 7.6%; 8 years or more =9.7%; P = 0.392). However, use of prescribed pain medication significantly varied by years of survivorship (< 1 year = 45.7%; 1 to < 3 years = 24.6%; 3 to < 8 years = 18.9; 8 years or more = 18.3%; p < 0.001). Of note, a significant proportion of survivors reported moderate to severe pain (moderate to severe = 55.7% versus none to mild = 44.3%) despite step 3 analgesic use (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression shows that recurrent disease (OR 6.77, 95% CI [1.44, 31.80]), history of chemotherapy (OR 6.00, 95% CI [2.10, 17.14]), and depression (Mild-moderate OR 5.30, 95% CI [2.20, 12.78]; Major OR 8.00, 95% CI [2.67, 23.96]) were significant risk factors for severe pain. Conclusions We identified a high prevalence of pain among HNC survivors and determined that analgesic use varied by the duration of survivorship. Therefore, routine surveillance for pain must be consistent throughout the course of survivorship.

Does Money Matter? Characteristics Associated With Joint Pain Medication Access Among Older Adults

The experience of pain is a widespread phenomenon among adults, especially older adults, and entails high costs to both individuals and society. The objective of the current research is to determine if the ability to pay and supplementary insurance are factors associated with pain medication among individuals over 50. Data came from Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample included 64,281 individuals 50+ from nineteen European countries and Israel. Joint pain was common with one out of three reporting joint pain. Prevalence of pain was similar among different age groups, and more women reported joint pain. Among those in pain, about 21.5% of the individuals reported mild pain, 52.9% moderate and 26% severe pain. In the multivariate logistic regression, we found that men and those older than 60 suffered more from joint pain, while controlling for education and subjective assessment of the ability to cope economically (Able to make ends meet). A large percentage of those with pain were not taking medication to manage their pain, and there were significant demographic differences between those that did and did not take medication. Those that took medication were younger, male, had more education, were able to cope economically and had supplementary insurance. Our study showed that about half of the individuals with pain were not taking medication to manage their pain. Our results demonstrate that among individuals over 50 in Europe income is strongly associated with taking pain medication and that there is economic inequity in medication access.

Prevalence of Pain within Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy R9 and Implications for Other Degenerative Diseases

Our primary aim was to establish the prevalence of pain within limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 (LGMDR9). As part of the Global FKRP Registry, patients are asked to complete the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) annually. We used the results of this questionnaire to determine individuals’ maximum pain score and total pain score and examined overall pain intensity and associations between pain intensity and LGMDR9 genotypes, age, and ambulatory status. We also considered the pain descriptors used and pain progression over time. Of the 502 patients, 87% reported current pain and 25% reported severe current pain. We found no associations in pain severity between the different genotypes of LGMDR9. However, we did find statistically significant associations between pain severity and ambulatory status and between our paediatric and adult populations. We found pain descriptors to be more common words that one may associate with non-neural pain, and we found that a significant number of individuals (69%) reported a fluctuating pain pattern over time. We concluded that pain should be considered a significant issue among individuals with LGMDR9 requiring management. Implications regarding assessment of pain for other degenerative diseases are discussed.

Health Conditions in Adults With Cerebral Palsy: The Association With CP Subtype and Severity of Impairments

Aim: To determine the prevalence of common health conditions in adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and to identify associations with the CP subtype or the severity of impairments.Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study of 153 adults with CP born from 1959 to 1978 (87 males, 66 females; median age 48 years 3 months, range 37–58 years; 41% with unilateral spastic, 36% bilateral spastic, 19% dyskinetic, and 4% with ataxic CP). Data was gathered through interviews, physical assessments, and medical record reviews.Results: The most common health conditions in adults with CP were pain 65%, upper gastrointestinal disorders 33%, dysphagia 29%, epilepsy 29%, and depression 27%. Cerebral palsy subtype was significantly associated with the presence of pain (p = 0.029), gastrointestinal (p &lt; 0.001), and respiratory disorders (p = 0.006). A more severe physical impairment was associated with a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders (p &lt; 0.001), respiratory disorders (p &lt; 0.001), and pressure ulcers (p &lt; 0.001). Intellectual disability was associated with a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders (p &lt; 0.001), pneumonia (p = 0.001) epilepsy (p = 0.001), and pressure ulcers (p &lt; 0.001), but with a lower prevalence of pain (p &lt; 0.004) and hypertension (p = 0.043).Conclusion: The prevalence of several common health conditions is related to the CP subtype and severity of impairments, indicating that CP plays a role in the development of these health conditions. Follow-up of adults with CP needs to include not only impairments, but general health as well. Increased attention directed toward signs of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders in individuals with either dyskinetic CP, gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) levels IV–V, or intellectual disability, is recommended.

Prevalence of non-specific chronic low-back pain and risk factors among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia

Background Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder affecting health and work among the military population. NSCLBP is a complex disorder with several risk factors contributing to its occurrence. Therefore, the objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence and contribution of risk factors towards NSCLBP among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to January 2021 among the military personnel at Hafar Al-Batin military base, Saudi Arabia. The entire population (n = 62, 000) at the military base were invited to participate in the study. The participants were invited to participate in the study either through direct referral from in-patient and out-patient departments of the military hospital or by invitation through pamphlets, email, and advertisement across the offices and residential areas. Soldiers reporting lower back pain for at least 12 weeks were screened for inclusion criteria at the physical therapy department of the military hospital. Inclusion criteria included pain or discomfort originating from the lower back without any known spinal diseases. Participants with a systemic inflammatory disorder, trauma, neurological symptoms, and recent spinal surgery were excluded. All eligible participants were assessed for demographic variables and risk factors and complete the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and WHO-Five Well-Being Index. Results This study identified a 46.3% prevalence of pain originating from the spine with a 2.7% prevalence of NSCLBP. Spearman’s rho correlation between the severity of disability due to NSCLBP was strongly associated with age (rs = 0.834, p < 0.01), quality of sleep (rs = 0.790, p < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (rs = 0.617, p < 0.01), smoking (rs = 0.520, p < 0.01), co-morbidity (rs = 0.357, p < 0.01), but not with the level of physical activity (rs = 0.044, p = 0.07). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of pain originating from the spine among male Saudi soldiers with a relatively low prevalence of NSCLBP. However, the prevalence of disability due to NSCLBP was strongly associated with age, sleep quality, BMI, smoking habit, and co-morbidity.