Musculoskeletal pain among postmenopausal women in Nigeria: Association with overall and central obesity

Abstract

Background: Menopausal women experience musculoskeletal changes such as muscle atrophy, muscle weakness and osteoporosis—symptoms associated with advancing age coupled with depletion of the female sex hormone, estrogen. Estrogen is important in the maintenance of the integrity of the musculoskeletal system and its reduction in the circulation due to menopausal transition results in reduced resting metabolic rate, lowered energy expenditure, increase in fat mass, and central adipose tissue accumulation. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in postmenopausal women (PMW) in Nigeria. We examined the association of overall and central obesity with complaints of MSP and the screening potential of obesity measures for risk of musculoskeletal problems among PMW in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of MSP in 310 PMW in Ibadan, Nigeria. MSP was assessed using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and overall and central obesity were assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist/height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression models with the probability level at p = 0.05. Results: Participants were of the modal age group (51–60 years). The highest prevalence rates of MSP were in the lower extremity (189; 61.0%) and the back (164; 52.9%). A direct association was observed between the categories of BMI and lower extremity symptoms ( p < 0.05), and the categories of WHtR and waist circumference were associated with back and lower extremity symptoms ( p < 0.05). Postmenopausal women had greater odds of reporting MSP across various classes of BMI. WHtR revealed the greatest odds for back (odds ratio = 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.75) and lower extremity symptoms (odds ratio = 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.44–3.78). Conclusion: Lower extremity and back pain symptoms were the most prevalent. For overall and central obesity directly associated with MSP, WHtR seemed the best obesity screening tool for MSP in postmenopausal women.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorder among Postmenopausal Women: A Cross Sectional Study

“…The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in postmenopausal women in India was 53.3% 5 and Nigeria was 60.79%. 16 Similarlyour study has revealed similar prevalence of 56% (TABLE 1, FIGURE 1), which states that maximum postmenopausal women are affected with musculoskeletal pain in India and abroad population.…”

The Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Pains, Serum Estradiol Level and Climacteric Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

“…In these women, plasma estrogen levels, as a hormonal and reproductive factor, had a signi cant negative relationship with low back pain (19). Estrogen is an important factor in maintaining the integration of the musculoskeletal system (21). The inability to produce estrogen in the menopausal status is associated with decreasing the skeletal muscle mass, muscle performance, and functional capacity (22).…”

Inter-relationship among abdominal obesity cardiorespiratory fitness, and body image attitude among menopausal women in Oyo state Nigeria

“…(32). A previous study using the MBSRQ in the Nigerian female population yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.78 indicating that the instrument is a reliable tool in the Nigerian setting (33). The overall score of each of the subscales of the MBSRQ is 5.…”