Assessment of Pain Symptoms in Primary Care Physiotherapy: Insights from Patient-Reported Data

Objective: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a leading cause of disability, significantly affecting quality of life and work productivity. Many individuals initially rely on self-medication and home remedies, leading to delayed physiotherapy intervention. Understanding patient-reported pain characteristics is essential for optimizing physiotherapy management strategies. This study aims to analyze pain distribution, intensity, symptom duration, and recurrence among patients seeking primary care physiotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted across primary care physiotherapy clinics in the Middle East, using a systematic random sampling approach. Data from 1,600 patients were collected via validated self-reported questionnaires before their initial consultation. Pain characteristics, including primary symptom site, co-occurring pain sites, intensity (0–10 Numeric Rating Scale), symptom duration, and recurrence, were analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including multivariate logistic regression, were used to identify predictors of chronic pain. Results: The lower back (38.5%) was the most common primary symptom site, followed by the knee (22.1%) and shoulder (14.3%). Co-occurring pain was reported in 47.8% of cases. The mean pain intensity was 6.7 (SD = 1.9), with 50.4% experiencing chronic pain (>12 weeks). Higher pain intensity (OR = 2.3, p < 0.001) and multiple pain sites (OR = 1.9, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of chronic pain. Conclusion: MSK pain is highly prevalent, with many patients experiencing chronic and recurrent symptoms. Early physiotherapy intervention should be prioritized for individuals with high pain intensity and multisite pain to prevent long-term disability. Future research should explore multifactorial contributors and assess treatment efficacy in physiotherapy settings. Keywords: chronic; data; experience; muscle; skeleton