title: Reference values and factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in healthy adolescents and adults.
abstract: Insufficient attention has been given to individuals who report musculoskeletal symptoms yet experience minimal disability.
  
  
  
  To examine musculoskeletal symptoms among healthy individuals, and compare demographic, psychological and physical factors between individuals with and without symptoms.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  
  Data were from the 1000 Norms Project which recruited 1000 individuals aged 3-101 years. Participants were healthy by self-report and had no major physical disability. Musculoskeletal symptoms (ache/pain/discomfort, including single-site and multi-site symptoms) were assessed in adolescents (11-17y) and adults (18-101y) using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E). To compare individuals with single-site, multi-site and no symptoms, body mass index, grip strength, 6-min walk, 30-s chair stand and timed up-and-down stairs (all participants), and mental health, sleep difficulties, self-efficacy and physical activity (adults), were collected.
  
  
  
  /findings: Socio-demographic characteristics were similar to the Australian population. Twelve-month period prevalence of all symptoms was 69-82%; point prevalence was 23-39%. Adults with single-site symptoms were more likely to be overweight/obese and had lower sit-to-stand and stair-climbing performance (p < 0.05). Adults with multi-site symptoms were more likely to be female and overweight/obese, had lower mental health, greater sleep difficulties and lower grip strength, 6-min walk and sit-to-stand performance (p < 0.05). Differences were only observed among 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-101 year-olds.
  
  
  
  Normative reference data for the NMQ-E have been generated. Musculoskeletal symptoms are common among healthy individuals. In older adults, musculoskeletal symptoms are linked with overweight/obesity, lower mental health, sleep difficulties and lower physical performance, emphasising the importance of multi-dimensional assessments in musculoskeletal disorders.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: jennifer.baldwin@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Marnee J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hiller
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.affiliation: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia; Paediatric Gait Analysis Service of New South Wales, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (Randwick and Westmead), Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activities of daily living; Musculoskeletal pain; Prevalence