Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Ability

Multisite musculoskeletal pain refers to the simultaneous experience of pain in two or more anatomical regions, such as the low back, neck, shoulders and limbs. This phenomenon has emerged as a major occupational health concern, affecting a broad range of workers from manual trades to office environments. Its prevalence often exceeds that of single‐site disorders and is associated with greater functional impairment, reduced quality of life and increased healthcare utilisation. Work ability—the capacity of an individual to meet the physical and mental demands of their job—declines progressively with rising symptom load. Determinants of this decline include physical exposures, psychosocial stressors, sleep disturbance and individual factors such as pain self‐efficacy. Multi‐region pain interacts with job strain to exacerbate productivity loss, sickness absence and premature exit from the workforce, posing substantial socioeconomic burden worldwide. Interventions that combine ergonomic adjustment, stress management and strategies to bolster coping beliefs hold promise in preserving work ability among those with widespread pain.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Ability publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in multisite musculoskeletal pain and work ability across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Multisite musculoskeletal pain: Concurrent pain experienced in two or more distinct body regions over a defined period.

Work ability: An individual’s capacity to perform work tasks, considering health, skills and job demands.

Work Ability Index (WAI): A questionnaire‐based tool that quantifies work ability on a scale reflecting current and future capacity relative to job requirements.

Pain self‐efficacy: Confidence in one’s own ability to perform activities despite pain, influencing coping and functional outcomes.

References

1. Distribution and prevalence of musculoskeletal pain co-occurring with persistent low back pain: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2021).
2. Work ability and productivity among dentists: associations with musculoskeletal pain, stress, and sleep. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2019).
3. The influence of perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain on work performance and work ability in Swedish health care workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2013).
4. Associations of multisite pain with healthcare utilization, sickness absence and restrictions at work. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2016).