Factors such as the predominant type of employment, lifestyle, climate, age of the population, and access to physiotherapy services mean that pain derived from musculoskeletal pathologies presents significant variations depending on the region of origin of the patients.
Professor Alberto Bermejo of the Department of Physiotherapy at the European University has analyzed statistics such as the INE's National Health Survey and abundant literature on this matter to conclude that the labor profile of the region is a "determining" factor in the prevalence, but of course not the only one.
"It is not the same to treat a patient who spends eight hours a day in front of a computer as one who works in construction or in the field," says Bermejo, who adds to this factor and others already mentioned several more that are also important such as stress, diet, educational level, or socioeconomic level.
Office, Field, and Factory Pains
As a consequence of this 'cocktail' of factors, it is observed, for example, that in urban areas such as Madrid or Barcelona, with a high prevalence of office work or teleworking, cervicalgia, lumbago, and carpal tunnel syndrome predominate.
These are pains resulting from injuries related to sedentary lifestyle and poor ergonomics, inadequate postures that are maintained for long hours, often in front of the computer, among which the piriformis syndrome is increasingly common, produced by remaining in seated positions for long hours.
In contrast, in agricultural or industrial areas such as Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, or Galicia, injuries due to muscle overload, tendinopathies, and lumbar problems are more frequent.
These are pains in this case resulting from jobs that require physical activities that are often repetitive, which are related to the overuse of body structures and can lead to tendinopathies in shoulders, elbows, and knees, mechanical low back pain and herniated discs, as well as stress fractures and sprains, especially in sectors such as construction or agriculture.
Pains of Age or Sport
In turn, regions with a relatively older population than others, such as Castilla y León or Asturias, show a predominance of degenerative pathologies such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and fractures due to bone fragility.
And in territories with a strong presence of tourism and sports, such as the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, or the Valencian Community, it is common to treat sports injuries, sprains, and joint problems in the lower limbs.
Finally, in other communities, among which the expert mentions Andalusia, Extremadura, or Castilla-La Mancha, a greater number of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pathologies are located, often associated with the combination of high rates of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and some aging of the population.
The Importance of Prevention
In parallel, autonomous communities such as the Basque Country, Navarra, or Catalonia present better indicators of musculoskeletal health thanks to a greater implementation of prevention programs and better physical activity habits.
In this regard, Bermejo emphasizes that access to physiotherapy services, both public and private, has a direct impact not only on the evolution of ailments but also on their prevention.
"In places where physiotherapy is more accessible, musculoskeletal problems can be treated in initial phases, preventing them from becoming chronic and significantly improving the quality of life," but in those regions with less availability of physiotherapy, "patients tend to seek help when the pain is already more advanced, which increases the risk of long-term complications."
In view of the territorial differences detected, the expert recommends adapting preventive measures according to the work environment, for example establishing "active breaks, good ergonomics, and regular physical activity" in sedentary jobs or training in lifting techniques, task rotation, and strengthening programs in physically demanding jobs such as agriculture, industry, or construction.
A Quarter of Spaniards Suffer from Chronic Pain
In Spain, there are nine million adults, 25.9%, who suffer from chronic pain, especially in the extremities, joints, and back, and a good part of them find it difficult to perform daily activities such as getting up, sitting down, and getting dressed, although almost one in three, 27.1%, does not know its cause, according to the Barometer of Chronic Pain in Spain 2022.
For it to be considered as such, chronic pain must occur continuously more than four days a week and persist for at least three months, and, in addition to those referred to by Professor Bermejo, the Barometer includes, among others, those caused by emotional distress due to biological, psychological, or social causes; oncological; post-surgical or neuropathic.
