Musculoskeletal conditions are characterized by muscle, bone, joint, and connective tissue impairment that affects movement. Around 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions globally.
Studies also show that conditions including diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome increase the risk of developing musculoskeletal conditions. Research has also shown that cardiovascular disease risk is linked to the development of such conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)—when a major nerve in the hand is squeezed or compressed as it travels to the wrist.
Understanding more about the risk factors underlying musculoskeletal conditions could aid the development of treatment and prevention strategies.
Recently, researchers analyzed epidemiological data to identify a link between cardiovascular disease risk and the development of four common musculoskeletal conditions.
or the study, the researchers analyzed healthcare data from 1,224 workers in fields including manufacturing, healthcare, office jobs, and food processing. Participants were 42 years old on average, and 66% were female.
Data included physical examinations, structured interviews, anthropometric measurements, and nerve conduction studies that assessed for four common musculoskeletal conditions:
- CTS: pain in the wrist from repetitive grasping movements with the hands
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy: pain and weakness when moving the shoulder often caused by repetitive overhead activities such as throwing, raking, or washing cars
- Lateral epicondylopathy or ‘tennis elbow: pain, burning, or aching along the outside of the forearm and elbow that occurs when the forearm muscles become damaged from overuse
- Medial epicondylopathy or ‘golfer’s elbow’: pain in the inside of the elbow from overuse of forearm muscles
Other data included individualized measurements of job-related physical factors and questionnaires assessing demographic variables such as medical conditions, hobbies, and exercise habits.
The researchers also assessed participants’ cardiovascular risk from variables including:
- Age
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Treated and untreated hypertension
Cardiovascular risk scores did not include cholesterol or BMI.
Participants were followed for the development of musculoskeletal symptoms on a monthly basis for nine years.
Ultimately, the researchers found that participants at a 15% higher than average risk of cardiovascular disease were four times more likely to develop one or musculoskeletal disorder than those with lower risk.
