Musculoskeletal Pain and Quality of Life in Obese Patients

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of obesity on frequency and severity of musculoskeletal pain and quality of life. Methods: Demographic data of 230 patients that presented to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department because of musculoskeletal pain were acquired and analyzed. Patients were randomized into two groups according to body mass index [BMI] values: obese group [BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2] and normal-weighted group [BMI < 25 kg/m2]. Patients were asked for localization and duration of muskuloskeletal pain. Severity of pain was evaluated by using a visual analog scale. Information on difficulties of daily movements within the last month was obtained and quality of life was evaluated by using the Short-Form 36. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in frequency of neck pain [p = 0.049], shoulder pain [p = 0.001], elbow pain [p = 0.006], wrist and hand pain [p = 0.012], arm pain [p = 0.017], low back pain [p = 0.001], hip pain [p = 0.001], knee pain [p = 0.001], ankle-foot pain [p = 0.001], and leg pain [p = 0.001] in the obese group when compared with the normal-weighted group. There was a statistically significant increase in visual analog scale scores of the all body parts in the obese group when compared with in the normal-weighted group [p < 0.01]. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in difficulties of daily movements within last month [p < 0.01]. All the parameters of Short-Form 36 were found statistically significant lower in the obese group [p = 0.001]. Conclusions: Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic disease which causes many complications and pain on the musculoskeletal system. Difficulty of daily movements also decreases quality of life.