January 29, 2003—A possible link between musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and cigarette smoking in both current and former smokers was revealed recently by researchers at the University of Southampton, England. The study of nearly 13,000 smokers and non-smokers showed that current and ex-smokers had higher risks of pain for all body locations studied (lower back, neck, and upper and lower limbs). Current smokers had about a 50% higher incidence of reporting pain that prevented them from performing normal activities, regardless of their job.
According to the study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the results might be explained by the effects of tobacco smoke on a person’s pain response, or because people with a low threshold for reporting pain and disability might be more likely to start smoking, or because tobacco smoking could cause damage to musculoskeletal tissues. Based on a report from Ergonomics Today.
