Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Nutrition: Where Are We and Where Are We Heading?

Ömer Elma, Sevilay T Yilmaz, Tom Deliens, Peter Clarys, Jo Nijs, Iris Coppieters, Andrea Polli, Anneleen Malfliet

Journal: PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation 2021;12(12):1268-1278

PMID: 32086871

Full Text on Ovid Technologies, Inc. View on PubMed

Abstract

Nutrition is one of the most important lifestyle factors related to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, poor diet is also considered a predicting, perpetuating, or underlying factor in chronic musculoskeletal pain. This narrative review provides an overview of current knowledge on the relationship between nutrition and chronic musculoskeletal pain (ie, inflammation, obesity, homeostatic balance, and central sensitization as underlying mechanisms). This review also identifies how dietary intake assessments and nutritional behavior interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain can be used in clinical practice and identifies areas in need of additional research. Based on the available literature, dietary behavior and quality could have an impact on chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, but the direction of this impact is unclear. There is a need for additional human nutrition studies that focus on specific musculoskeletal pain conditions and underlying pathologies.

Address: Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.; Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.; Pain in Motion International Research Group, Brussel, Belgium.; Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.

DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.12346

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/chronicpain.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Sensitization, Chronic Pain, Diet, Humans, Life Style, Musculoskeletal Pain, Nutritional Status, Obesity