Predictors of musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities of individuals with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Introduction: Increased demands on the upper extremities (UE) have been associated with a higher occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Study design: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize SCI subjects with musculoskeletal pain in the UE and to determine which variables could predict musculoskeletal pain in these individuals.

Setting: The study was conducted in SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Brasília, Brazil.

Methods: Five hundred sixty-four electronic medical records were investigated through a retrospective, exploratory and descriptive analysis to identify individuals with UE pain. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate (odds ratios) whether gender, age, the level of injury, severity of injury, time of injury, body mass index, type of mobility and locomotion aid could predict the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain.

Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the UE was 27.7%. The odds of having musculoskeletal pain were two times higher among woman and tetraplegic patients; those over 41 years of age had twice the frequency of pain than did those <24.7 years; <1 year of injury was a predictor of musculoskeletal pain, compared with the other quartiles (1.1-2.8, 2.9-6.8 and 6.9+ years of injury). There were no differences between the wheelchair and ambulatory individuals.

Conclusion: Female individuals, those with tetraplegia, aged >40 years and <1 year of injury showed an increased risk of musculoskeletal pain.