Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms

Aim: Numerous investigations have revealed sex differences in recovery outcomes in individuals who have sustained work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMIs). Previous research has also revealed significant sex differences in the prevalence and severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) fol...

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Main Authors: Antonina D.S. Pavilanis, Vanessa Vita, Heather Adams, Michael J.L. Sullivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Open Exploration Publishing Inc. 2024-06-01
Series:Exploration of Musculoskeletal Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A100752/100752.pdf
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author Antonina D.S. Pavilanis
Vanessa Vita
Heather Adams
Michael J.L. Sullivan
author_facet Antonina D.S. Pavilanis
Vanessa Vita
Heather Adams
Michael J.L. Sullivan
author_sort Antonina D.S. Pavilanis
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Numerous investigations have revealed sex differences in recovery outcomes in individuals who have sustained work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMIs). Previous research has also revealed significant sex differences in the prevalence and severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following musculoskeletal injury. This study investigated whether PTSS mediated sex differences in recovery outcomes in individuals receiving treatment for a work-related musculoskeletal injury. The recovery outcomes of interest in the present study were pain severity and pain-related disability. Methods: The study sample included 137 individuals (68 men; 69 women) with WRMIs who were enrolled in a 7-week physical rehabilitation program. Participants completed measures of pain severity, pain disability and PTSS at admission and termination of the physical rehabilitation program. Results: Consistent with previous research, independent samples t-tests revealed that women obtained significantly higher baseline scores on measures of pain severity (P < 0.01), number of pain sites (P < 0.001), depression (P < 0.001) and PTSS (P < 0.001) compared to men. Also consistent with previous research, the measure of PTSS, assessed at baseline, was prospectively associated with treatment-related disability reduction (P < 0.01), and return to work (P < 0.01). Bootstrap regression analyses revealed that PTSS partially mediated the relation between sex and pain-related disability. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the experience of PTSS might be one of the factors that explain sex differences in recovery outcomes following a WRMI. The results call for greater attention to the assessment and intervention of PTSS in individuals who have sustained WRMIs.
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spelling doaj-art-605419cf625745efb2ccd9c67ca67ba12025-08-20T02:44:56ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Musculoskeletal Diseases2836-64682024-06-012324225510.37349/emd.2024.00052Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptomsAntonina D.S. Pavilanis0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9187-2135Vanessa Vita1Heather Adams2Michael J.L. Sullivan3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4228-1678Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, CanadaSchool of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, CanadaAim: Numerous investigations have revealed sex differences in recovery outcomes in individuals who have sustained work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMIs). Previous research has also revealed significant sex differences in the prevalence and severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following musculoskeletal injury. This study investigated whether PTSS mediated sex differences in recovery outcomes in individuals receiving treatment for a work-related musculoskeletal injury. The recovery outcomes of interest in the present study were pain severity and pain-related disability. Methods: The study sample included 137 individuals (68 men; 69 women) with WRMIs who were enrolled in a 7-week physical rehabilitation program. Participants completed measures of pain severity, pain disability and PTSS at admission and termination of the physical rehabilitation program. Results: Consistent with previous research, independent samples t-tests revealed that women obtained significantly higher baseline scores on measures of pain severity (P < 0.01), number of pain sites (P < 0.001), depression (P < 0.001) and PTSS (P < 0.001) compared to men. Also consistent with previous research, the measure of PTSS, assessed at baseline, was prospectively associated with treatment-related disability reduction (P < 0.01), and return to work (P < 0.01). Bootstrap regression analyses revealed that PTSS partially mediated the relation between sex and pain-related disability. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the experience of PTSS might be one of the factors that explain sex differences in recovery outcomes following a WRMI. The results call for greater attention to the assessment and intervention of PTSS in individuals who have sustained WRMIs.https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A100752/100752.pdfmusculoskeletal injurypaindisabilitypost-traumatic stress symptomssex differences
spellingShingle Antonina D.S. Pavilanis
Vanessa Vita
Heather Adams
Michael J.L. Sullivan
Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
Exploration of Musculoskeletal Diseases
musculoskeletal injury
pain
disability
post-traumatic stress symptoms
sex differences
title Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
title_full Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
title_fullStr Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
title_full_unstemmed Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
title_short Sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain: the mediating role of post-traumatic stress symptoms
title_sort sex differences in response to rehabilitation treatment for musculoskeletal pain the mediating role of post traumatic stress symptoms
topic musculoskeletal injury
pain
disability
post-traumatic stress symptoms
sex differences
url https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A100752/100752.pdf
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