Effects of pain management on work ability in aging workers with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study

With increasing life expectancy and an aging population, societies worldwide are experiencing a growing workforce affected by chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP). However, the impact of pain management on work ability in this demographic remains uninvestigated. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between pain-management strategies and work ability among aging workers with MSP. Data were collected from 264 aging workers (≥ 45 years of age) experiencing chronic MSP for at least three months. Participants completed face-to-face interviews using the Thai versions of the Brief Pain Inventory, Pain Coping Inventory, and Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaires. Information on job characteristics and health status was recorded. Pain-management approaches were categorized into pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological treatments, and self-pain-coping strategies. The results revealed that pharmacological (69.3%), non-pharmacological (60.3%), and self-pain-coping (90.9%) strategies were commonly used for pain relief. Pain-management strategies significantly associated with work ability included pharmacological treatment (p = 0.011), combined pharmacological, and non-pharmacological treatments (p = 0.013), continuing activities at a slower pace (p = 0.011), retreating to a restful environment (p = 0.018), and continuous focus on the pain (p = 0.025). Ordinal logistic regression analysis identified returning home immediately when outdoors as significant risk factors for poor work ability. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant role of pain management in maintaining work ability among aging workers. Pharmacological and combined treatments were commonly used, but coping strategies such as returning home immediately were linked to reduced work ability. Pain severity, interference, and chronic conditions (hypertension, dyslipidemia, knee pain, and low back pain) were key risk factors for decreased work ability.