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Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life
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Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Assessments".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 9309

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nikolaos Strimpakos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Health Assessment and Quality of Life Laboratory, Physiotherapy Department, University of Thessaly, 35100 Lamia, Greece
Interests: musculoskeletal rehabilitation; development of objective and subjective outcome measures; exercise in chronic diseases; hydrotherapy; health assessment; assessment of quality of life

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Musculoskeletal problems affect a great proportion of people worldwide, being one of the leading causes of health status decline and also a significant financial burden to both health systems and patients. They cover a broad spectrum of inflammatory and degenerative diseases that can affect several tissues such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, bones, and joints. They can also result from a single or cumulative trauma, causing pain, loss of function, disability, and above all a decline in the quality of life of these patients.

It is well known that persistent musculoskeletal problems can have a significant negative physical, psychological, and social impact on an individual's daily life. Nowadays, the patient-centered model in healthcare highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of musculoskeletal disorders and subsequent therapeutic approaches on patients’ quality of life, especially from their perspective. The evaluation of QoL needs to be holistic and personalized to be meaningful for both clinicians and patients.

This Special Issue welcomes research studies or reviews considering the quality of life in people with musculoskeletal problems. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses of quality of life in people with musculoskeletal problems;
  • Psychometric studies concerning assessment tools measuring the quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal problems;
  • Cross-sectional studies for the cultural adaptation of assessment tools measuring the quality of life of musculoskeletal patients in specific countries;
  • Original correlational, observational, comparative, or other research studies investigating the relationship between musculoskeletal problems and quality of life;
  • Development of outcome measures and new technology such as mHealth for assessing the quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal problems;
  • Development of new methods, techniques, and approaches for improving the quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal problems;
  • Other relative studies.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Nikolaos Strimpakos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • health-related quality of life
  • musculoskeletal pain
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • orthopedic patients
  • chronic musculoskeletal pain
  • rehabilitation
  • satisfaction
  • health status
  • sleep disturbance
  • mental health

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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15 pages, 656 KiB  
Article
Determinants of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Food Delivery Riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia: An Ergonomic Risk Assessment
by Aziah Daud, Ijlal Syamim Mohd Basri, Elyas Ahmad, Suhaily Mohd Hairon, Nor Azali Azmir, Azlis Sani Md Jalil and Rusli Nordin
Healthcare 2025, 13(6), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060645 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 561
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been found to be the leading factor in disabilities and absenteeism among workers. Despite their growing numbers, WMSD prevalence and risk factors among food delivery riders remain underexplored. Given the high WMSD prevalence among motorcyclists and the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been found to be the leading factor in disabilities and absenteeism among workers. Despite their growing numbers, WMSD prevalence and risk factors among food delivery riders remain underexplored. Given the high WMSD prevalence among motorcyclists and the rising road traffic accidents (RTAs) among delivery riders in Malaysia, a cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the determinants of WMSDs among this neglected group. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic factors, work-related factors, and a validated Malay-translated Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (M-SNMQ) was used to evaluate the WMSD symptoms and related factors among 191 food delivery riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia. An ergonomic risk assessment using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method and whole-body vibration (WBV) measurement was also conducted to elicit the WMSD risk and vibration exposure among the riders. The determinants of WMSDs were analysed using multiple logistic regression using SPSS 20.4. Results: This study revealed a high prevalence of WMSDs (74.9%) among food delivery riders in Eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, three factors were found to be significantly associated with WMSDs among riders, namely the increasing average working days (aOR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.98; p = 0.001), whole-body vibration (WBV) above the exposure action value (EAV) limit (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI = 1.13, 6.53; p = 0.026), and not exercising before work (aOR = 21.63; 95% CI = 7.45, 62.79; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Targeted interventions are essential to mitigate ergonomic risks and enhance rider safety. Occupational health policies should prioritise pre-work exercise and WBV exposure reduction to minimise musculoskeletal strain. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of these risks on riders’ health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life)
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12 pages, 215 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Medication Adherence and Spirituality in Quality of Life of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases
by Maria Kavvadia, Maria Saridi, Aikaterini Toska, Vissarion Bakalis, Stella Zetta, Theodosios Paralikas, Pavlos Sarafis and Evangelos C. Fradelos
Healthcare 2025, 13(4), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13040436 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Background: Spirituality is significantly associated with the quality of life of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, helping them to cope with pain and improve emotional well-being. There is a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between spirituality, quality of life and [...] Read more.
Background: Spirituality is significantly associated with the quality of life of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, helping them to cope with pain and improve emotional well-being. There is a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between spirituality, quality of life and treatment adherence in patients with rheumatic diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as relevant studies, especially in the Greek population, are limited. Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of medication adherence and spirituality on the quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus from the region of Crete. Data were collected via a self-administrated questionnaire consisting of four parts, including questions regarding demographic and clinical information; the WHOQoL-BREF, 3, FACIT-Sp-12, and SMAQ questionnaires were used. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05 for all analyses. Results: The study sample consisted of 115 participants, with the majority being women (90%). The majority of the participants suffered from RA (62%), while 38% suffered from SLE. The mean age of the participants was 49.15 years (SD = 11.7), and 46% described their health as good. We found that the dimensions of spirituality are positively related to the dimensions of quality of life. The peace dimension has a strong correlation with psychological health (r = 0.679, p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (QOL Global, r = 0.671, p < 0.001). Meaning also shows a positive correlation with psychological health (r = 0.563, p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (r = 0.506, p < 0.001), whereas adherence to medication shows a low but positive correlation with overall spirituality (r = 0.192, p = 0.040). Conclusions: The findings support that spirituality can be a protective mechanism, improving the mental resilience and adaptability of patients. This study has the potential to contribute to the development of evidence-based guidelines for the integration of spiritual care into clinical practice, with the objective of enhancing the psychological well-being and overall quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life)
14 pages, 1383 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Heart Rate Variability, Pain Intensity, Pain Catastrophizing, Disability, Quality of Life and Range of Cervical Motion in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Ioannis Kyrosis, Eleftherios Paraskevopoulos, George A. Koumantakis and Anna Christakou
Healthcare 2024, 12(11), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12111055 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2530
Abstract
The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and the range of cervical motion, disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain. Thirty-five patients, aged 20–48 [...] Read more.
The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and the range of cervical motion, disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain. Thirty-five patients, aged 20–48 years, with chronic non-specific neck pain, completed validated questionnaires regarding neck pain intensity, pain-associated disability, catastrophic thoughts, and quality of life. The range of cervical motion was assessed using a digital goniometer. HRV indices were recorded in three positions (supine, sitting, and standing) through a smartphone application. Several significant correlations were observed between HRV indices and neck pain disability, the helplessness factor of catastrophizing, neck rotation, and quality of life. These correlations were only observed in the standing position. Pain catastrophizing was positively correlated with disability and pain intensity during active neck movement (Pearson r = 0.544, p < 0.01; Pearson r = 0.605, p < 0.01, respectively). Quality of life was negatively correlated with pain intensity during active movement (Pearson r = −0.347, p < 0.05). HRV indices were correlated with the psychological and physical domains of neck pain. These cardiac indices have been related to neck pain variables in some previous studies. Further research is needed to confirm this relationship in different daily conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life)
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11 pages, 736 KiB  
Article
Validity and Reliability of the Greek Version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain Patients
by Kyriakos Petropoulakos, Vasiliki Papakonstantinou, Smaragda Pentsi, Eftychia Souzou, Zacharias Dimitriadis, Evdokia Billis, Georgios Koumantakis, Ioannis Poulis and Savvas Spanos
Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050557 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2441
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate psychometric properties of the Greek translation of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GR-PSQI) in a Greek chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) sample, thus, providing insight on its clarity and acceptability as a widely used sleep [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate psychometric properties of the Greek translation of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GR-PSQI) in a Greek chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) sample, thus, providing insight on its clarity and acceptability as a widely used sleep assessment tool in clinical practice. Asymptomatic volunteers (n = 73) and CNSLBP volunteers (n = 47), participated in the study. For the assessment of construct validity, the known-groups method was used. Thus, all the participants (asymptomatic and CNSLBP) completed the GR-PSQI. For the assessment of concurrent validity, the CNSLBP participants additionally completed the following validated questionnaires for depression, insomnia and sleep quality: Beck Depression Inventory Questionnaire (BDI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Sleep Quality Numeric Rating Scale (SQNRS). For the assessment of test–retest reliability, the CNSLBP participants completed the GR-PSQI a second time, one week after the first time. The results showed excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.969, SEM = 0.90, SDD = 2.49%) and internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.985), moderate to good concurrent validity (from r = 0.556 to r = 0.860) among PSQI, BDI, SQNRS, and ISI, as well as excellent construct validity (p = 0.000) between the two groups. The Greek translation of PSQI could be a valuable tool for Greek healthcare professionals in both clinical and research environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life)
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13 pages, 1854 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Effectiveness of Combined Exercise and Self-Determination Theory Programmes on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis
by Alba Navas-Otero, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Javier Martín-Núñez, Geraldine Valenza-Peña, Sofía Hernández-Hernández, Araceli Ortiz-Rubio and Marie Carmen Valenza
Healthcare 2024, 12(3), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030382 - 1 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Low back pain is a pervasive issue worldwide, having considerable prevalence and a significant impact on disability. As low back pain is a complicated condition with many potential contributors, the use of therapeutic exercise, combined with other techniques such as self-determination theory programmes, [...] Read more.
Low back pain is a pervasive issue worldwide, having considerable prevalence and a significant impact on disability. As low back pain is a complicated condition with many potential contributors, the use of therapeutic exercise, combined with other techniques such as self-determination theory programmes, has the potential to improve several outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the effectiveness of combined exercise and self-determination theory programmes on chronic low back pain. This study was designed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. A systematic search in three databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus) was conducted from September to November 2023. After screening, a total of five random control trials with patients with chronic low back pain were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The results showed significant differences in disability (SMD = −0.98; 95% CI = −1.86, −0.09; p = 0.03) and in quality of life (SMD = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.44; p = 0.03) in favour of the intervention group versus the control group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Problems and Quality of Life)
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