We all know stress isn’t good for the body, but how does it affect the musculoskeletal system? Patients who seem to be under a lot of stress have more pain, especially neck pain. When people are stressed it changes their posture and increases muscular tension, which are both bad for your musculoskeletal health. Has stress ever made you do the following: Clench your teeth? Tense your neck? Hold your head in your hand? Hunch your shoulders? Throw out an attitudinal hip? 🙂 These can lead to headaches and jaw, neck, shoulder, and back pain. An emotionally unhealthy environment or condition is not one that is conducive to healing. If you are more stressed you may be less likely to complete your prescribed home exercise program. This will not help your cranky joints.
It has been shown in the workplace that high physical and psychosocial stresses increase the likelihood of someone experiencing pain. Those who are under physical and psychosocial stress are more likely to report arm and neck pain, with high psychosocial stress influencing pain more when the worker is under high physical stress.1 When compared to those whom are pain free, those with chronic low back pain and widespread musculoskeletal pain had more depression and anxiety, and more fear-avoidance behavior (not moving because of fear of making pain worse).2 Another study of those undergoing knee scopes showed that optimism and stress are important predictors of perceived pain levels after surgery.3
What is common among people who do not have musculoskeletal pain? A 4-year study of those whom did not report any pain showed that people who responded had better sleep, less depression, less anxiety, and less psychological distress. 46% of those with the following four characteristics: good sleep, low illness behavior, low psychological distress, and an absence of recent adverse life events; reported being pain-free.4
What are some ways you can reduce stress in your life?
- Exercise regularly. Benefits on mood and anxiety have been discussed before. Consider adding yoga to your exercise routine. There is lots of research out there on the benefits of yoga. It has been shown to reduce pain levels in rheumatoid arthritis.56
- Evaluate your daily routine and habits. Can you be more efficient or organized? Are there activities that you are doing everyday that is sucking the life force from you? Change them or get rid of them.
- Look at your priorities. Are you over committed? Take a moment to assess the important things in life and make sure your actions reflect your actual priorities.
- Assess your environment. Is it making you stressed? Keeping things clean and decluttered and feel more in control.
- Take vacations. This week I am visiting with family and friends. There is no better city to kick it back, relax, and have a good time than New Orleans. 😉
- Get it off your chest with a journal. Half of those suffering from asthma and RA who wrote about their most stressful life experiences for 20 minutes each day for 3 consecutive days experienced improved physical comfort.7
Staying emotionally healthy and decreasing stress are essential for getting better. In my opinion, patients who are not stressed and are more optimistic do better and have less pain. Get more sleep, be happy, and as they say in New Orleans, laissez les bon temps rouler, let the good times roll!
- J J Devereux, I G Vlachonikolis, & P W Buckle. (2002). Epidemiological study to investigate potential interaction between physical and psychosocial factors at work that may increase the risk of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder of the neck and upper limb. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(4), 269-77. [↩]
- Friedrich, M., Hahne, J., & Wepner, F.. (2009). A Controlled Examination of Medical and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Low Back Pain in Combination With Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain. Physical Therapy, 89(8), 786-803. [↩]
- Rosenberger, P., Kerns, R., Jokl, P., & Ickovics, J.. (2009). Mood and Attitude Predict Pain Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 37(1), 70. [↩]
- Jones E, McBeth J, Nicholl B, Morriss RK, Dickens C, Jones GT, Macfarlane GJ. (2009). What Characterizes Persons Who Do Not Report Musculoskeletal Pain? Results from a 4-year Population-based Longitudinal Study (The Epifund Study). J Rheumatol May 2009 36(5):1071-1077 [↩]
- Yesim Kurtais, Sehim Kutlay, & Sureyya Ergin. (2006). Exercise and Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment in Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 12(1), 37-45. [↩]
- Bosch, P., Traustadóttir, T., Howard, P., & Matt, K.. (2009). FUNCTIONAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF YOGA IN WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A PILOT STUDY. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 15(4), 24-31. [↩]
- David Butler. (1999, September). Write off pain and stress. Prevention, 51(9), 40. [↩]
MoniqueSerpasPT
My name is Monique Serpas, PT, DPT, OCS. I am a physical therapist and board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist practicing at the Southeast Louisiana Healthcare System in New Orleans, LA. I realize how difficult it can be to overcome an injury or manage a chronic condition and am focused on helping my clients achieve wellness through a physically active lifestyle. I treat orthopaedic, balance, and vestibular disorders and practice using a combination of hands-on manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and education. This enables my patients to assist in their own recovery and injury prevention. I also have developed fall prevention and golf-related rehab programs in the past. I hold a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Concordia University Wisconsin (2008) and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University (2004). I am a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Louisiana Physical Therapy Association (LPTA), and the Orthopaedic and Neurology sections of the APTA.
If you want to connect beyond the blog, m...@geaux2pt.com or click on the following social network icons:
November 20, 2009
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