Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
07:27

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Published on: October 6, 2016

Musculoskeletal Pain in People Aging With HIV: A Global Narrative Review

Stacey M Cahoon1,2,3,4,5, Julie Bobitt1,2,3,4,5, Kathleen M Weber1,2,3,4,5

  • 1Stacey M. Cahoon, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC
|July 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is common in aging people with HIV (PWH). More research is needed to understand HIV

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a prevalent, age-related condition.
  • People with HIV (PWH) experience high rates of chronic pain, with MSK pain being the most common source and joints the most frequent site.
  • As the PWH population ages, MSK pain presents a growing clinical and quality of life challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on MSK pain in PWH.
  • To identify critical knowledge gaps in understanding and managing MSK pain in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on MSK pain in PWH.
  • Analysis of risk factors for MSK pain, considering their prevalence in PWH.
  • Assessment of the limited comparative studies examining the effects of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on MSK pain.

Main Results:

  • Established risk factors for MSK pain are frequently observed in PWH.
  • Few studies specifically address MSK pain in PWH, and most lack adequate comparison groups.
  • The direct impact of HIV and ART on MSK pain remains poorly understood.

Conclusions:

  • MSK pain is a significant concern for aging PWH.
  • Further research is essential to elucidate the role of HIV and ART in MSK pain.
  • Understanding the interplay of biopsychosocial factors is crucial for developing effective pain management strategies.
Keywords:
arthritisback painmusculoskeletal painpeople with HIVrisk factors

More Related Videos

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation06:28

Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation

Published on: December 13, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption01:22

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...