Physical activity and disability among adolescents and young adults with non-specific musculoskeletal pain

Purpose: To compare physical activity levels of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain with that of healthy participants. To investigate the impact of pain intensity, pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms on the level of physical activity and disability of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain. Methods: Case-control study. Levels of physical activity and disability of adolescents and young adults with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain (n = 42) were compared with that of healthy participants (n = 42). For participants with chronic pain, measures of pain catastrophizing, pain intensity and depression were examined for their ability to explain levels of physical activity and disability. Statistics: multivariate regression analysis, Mann-Whitney testing, Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Participants with chronic pain were as active as healthy participants (p = 0.22) (confidence interval [CI] 95%), although they seemed to be less active in sports and heavy-loaded activities. Pain intensity (beta = 0.32) and depressive symptoms (beta = 0.36) contributed significantly to disability (CI 95%). There was no significant association between physical activity and disability (CI 95%). Conclusions: Chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain is a disabling condition for adolescents and young adults. The level of physical activity in the daily life of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain is comparable to that of healthy counterparts, although the performance of sports and heavy-loaded activities seems diminished. Both pain intensity and depressive symptoms are disabling.