Does difficulty in chewing induce subjective musculoskeletal symptoms? A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Oral Health
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant global health concern.
• The relationship between oral health and MSDs, specifically stiff neck/shoulders (SN/S) and low back pain (LBP), requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between poor oral health, characterized by difficulty chewing, and the prevalence of SN/S and LBP among Japanese workers.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving over 77,000 workers in Japan.
• Participants completed self-administered questionnaires assessing SN/S, LBP, and chewing ability.
• Inverse probability weighting (IPW) adjusted logistic regression models were used to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• Workers with difficulty chewing (poor condition group) had a significantly higher odds ratio for SN/S (OR=1.25) and LBP (OR=1.37) compared to those with good chewing ability.
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders using IPW.

Conclusions:

• Difficulty chewing is a potential predictor for the development of subjective SN/S and LBP in the working population.
• Promoting oral health and providing relevant health guidance are important strategies for preventing MSDs.