Better muscle strength can decrease the risk of arthralgia and back &joint stiffness in Kurdish men; a cross-sectio...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders significantly impact quality of life and work capacity.
• Assessing factors like handgrip strength (HGS) is crucial for understanding these conditions.
• This study investigates HGS in relation to low back pain and arthralgia in Kurdish men.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and the prevalence of low back pain and arthralgia.
• To determine if HGS is a predictor for musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in adult men.
• To provide insights into potential strategies for reducing musculoskeletal pain through strength enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study.
• Involved 2164 men aged 35-65 years.
• Handgrip strength measured with a dynamometer; pain and stiffness assessed by a physician using standardized questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of low back pain was 21.39% and arthralgia was 24.58%.
• Participants with arthralgia and stiffness had significantly lower mean HGS.
• Increased HGS was associated with a lower risk of arthralgia and stiffness, but not low back pain.

Conclusions:

• Higher handgrip strength is inversely associated with arthralgia and joint stiffness.
• No significant association was found between handgrip strength and low back pain.
• Recommendations include exercise and proper nutrition to improve muscle strength and reduce musculoskeletal pain.