Association Between a Healthy Lifestyle Behavior and Musculoskeletal Pain

Association Between a Healthy Lifestyle Behavior and Musculoskeletal Pain: an Online Cross-sectional Survey

Objective: The aim of this online cross-sectional survey is to determine the association between a combination of lifestyle factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain and/or temporomandibular pain), in the Belgian adult population.

Methods: Belgian adults from the general population will be recruited using non-probability sampling (convenience and snowballing). The survey will be available online for a period of 6 months on LimeSurvey software. Multivariable logistic regression analyses will be performed to determine the association between a combination of lifestyle factors (sleep, physical activity, stress, weight, smoking, nutrition) and the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

Discussion: The results of the study will provide data about associations between a combination of lifestyle factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain. This could strengthen current evidence about the importance of adhering to a healthy lifestyle and improve understanding of its association with musculoskeletal pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Low Back Pain; Neck Pain; Temporomandibular Pain

Detailed Description

Background: Numerous studies have evaluated the association between some lifestyle factors (e.g., physical activity, sleep, stress) and the presence of musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain or temporomandibular pain). However, the vast majority of them studied only one lifestyle factor at a time, included specific populations (e.g., workers, nurses), or did not use validated questionnaires. Very few studies to date have investigated the combination of several lifestyle factors. Assessing a single factor does not represent reality, since lifestyle factors are correlated with each other (adherence to some encourages adherence to others, as does non-adherence).

Objective: The aim of this online cross-sectional survey is to determine the association between a combination of lifestyle factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain and/or temporomandibular pain), in the Belgian adult population.

Methods: Belgian adults from the general population will be recruited using non-probability sampling (convenience and snowballing). The survey will be available online for a period of 6 months on LimeSurvey software. The questionnaire will include questions about general data, presence of musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain and temporomandibular pain), and lifestyle factors (sleep, physical activity, stress, weight, smoking, nutrition). Multivariable logistic regression analyses will be performed to determine the association between the combination of lifestyle factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pains (neck, low back, temporomandibular) will be analyzed separately and together (multisite pain). As sex seems to play a role in the presence of musculoskeletal pain, different analyses will be performed according to sex (both sexes, males only, females only). Potential confounding and modifying factors (e.g., age, anxiety, depression,...) will be included in the multivariable logistic regression models. Results will be presented using odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals.

Discussion: The results of the study will provide data about associations between a combination of lifestyle factors and the presence of musculoskeletal pain. This could strengthen current evidence about the importance of adhering to a healthy lifestyle and improve understanding of its association with musculoskeletal pain. These findings could help clinicians manage these musculoskeletal pains, by considering the role a lifestyle behavior may have on them.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1000

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alexandre Luc, MSc; Phone Number: +32479959115; Email: alexandre.luc@uclouvain.be

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Bruxelles, Belgium, 1200
    • Recruiting
    • Université Catholique de Louvain
    • Contact: Julie Vanacker, PhD; Phone Number: 003227647980; Email: julie.vanacker@saintluc.uclouvain.be

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Any adult (> 18 years old), male or female, living in Belgium, can complete the questionnaire.

The study population will include only adults, men and women, living in Belgium, who have access to the Internet.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age over 18 years (adults), males or females, living in Belgium
• To understand French and/or Dutch
• To be able to provide informed consent
• To have access to the Internet

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18 years
• Inability to complete the questionnaire
• Inability to provide informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
People without musculoskeletal pain; People who do not suffer from musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain and/or temporomandibular pain), with or without a healthy lifestyle behavior.
People with musculoskeletal pain; People suffering from musculoskeletal pain (neck pain, low back pain and/or temporomandibular pain), with or without a healthy lifestyle behavior.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck pain (in the last 30 days)	The presence of neck pain in the last 30 days will be determined using closed questions on pain location, pain intensity, pain-related disability, pain etiology, and pain duration.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Low back pain (in the last 30 days)	The presence of low back pain in the last 30 days will be determined using closed questions on pain location, pain intensity, pain-related disability, pain etiology, and pain duration.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Temporomandibular pain (in the last 30 days)	The presence of temporomandibular pain in the last 30 days will be determined using the "Temporo-Mandibular Disorders Pain Screener DC-TMD" questionnaire (which consists of 3 questions designed to screen for the presence of temporomandibular pain in the last 30 days) and closed questions on pain-related disability.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Multisite pain (in the last 30 days)	The presence of multisite pain in the last 30 days will be determined by the presence of more than one musculoskeletal pain in the last 30 days.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Tobacco consumption	Tobacco consumption will be assessed through closed questions about the past and current smoking use, but also about passive smoking. Participants will be separated into 5 groups : daily smokers, occasional smokers, ex-smokers, passive smokers, and non smokers. Only non smokers and non passive smokers will be considered "healthy".	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Sleep quality	Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The PSQI is a self-report questionnaire that consists of 19 items related to sleep habits within the past month and 7 clinically relevant domains of sleep difficulties: subjective sleep quality; sleep latency; sleep duration; sleep efficiency; sleep disturbances; use of sleep medication; and daytime dysfunction. Its score ranges from 0 to 21, and a total score > 5 is used to indicate poor sleepers. Participants with a score less than or equal to 5 will be considered "healthy".	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Physical activity	Physical activity will be assessed using the European Health Interview Survey - Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ). The EHIS-PAQ is a self-report questionnaire that aims to evaluate how far the population is physically active and assesses PA during work, transportation, leisure time, sports, health-enhancing, and muscle-strengthening activities over a typical week. Participants will be considered "healthy" if they perform leisure-time or sports physical activity at least 150 minutes at moderate intensity or 75 minutes at high intensity per week (or a combination of these intensities), and strength training of the major muscles groups at least 2 days per week.	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Consumption of fruits and vegetables	Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables will be assessed by asking participants the amount of servings of fruits and vegetables they eat daily. Participants will be considered "healthy" if they consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day (e.g., at least 500g/day).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Perceived stress	Perceived stress will be assessed using the "Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items" (PSS-10). PSS-10 assesses the imbalance between the individual's perception of the constraints of his environment and his perception of his own ability to cope with them. PSS-10 is a self-report questionnaire of 10 items, in which people are asked to rate on a 5-point scale the extent to which they experienced each of the listed feelings and thoughts, in the past month (from "never" to "very often"). Participants with a total PSS-10 score between 0 and 13 ("low stress") will be considered "healthy".	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)
Body mass index	Body Mass Index (BMI) will be assessed by asking participants about their height and weight. Height and weight will be combined to calculate the BMI : weight/height² (kg/m²). Participants with a BMI between 18.5 kg/m² and less than 25 kg/m² will be considered "healthy" (normal weight).	Baseline (at the time of completing the questionnaire)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université Catholique de Louvain
• Collaborators: Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Laurent Pitance, PhD, Université Catholique de Louvain

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 16, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 16, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 16, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 31, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 21, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Survey; Lifestyle; Musculoskeletal pain; Cross-sectional
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Back Pain; Low Back Pain; Neck Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: MUSKULO PAIN

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No