Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 can affect several body systems, and musculoskeletal symptoms may persist after recovery from the acute infection. Pain and other musculoskeletal complaints can create additional challenges during the post-COVID-19 recovery period. Objective: To determine the frequency and distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms among post-COVID-19 patients. Methodology: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2021 after ethical approval from the Lyallpur Institute of Management Sciences, using purposive sampling to recruit 120 individuals with previous COVID-19 infection, of whom 70 met the eligibility criteria. Participants were aged 30 to 55 years, had recovered from COVID-19 with a negative test, reported musculoskeletal symptoms, and had manual muscle testing grades 1–3, while smokers, those with autoimmune conditions, those >55 years, and participants still positive or under quarantine were excluded. Data were collected through a demographic form, self-developed screening questionnaire, 0–5 verbal pain scale, Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire, and Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, administered through face-to-face interviews. The Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire assessed overall musculoskeletal health (0–56), while the Nordic Questionnaire identified symptoms across different anatomical regions. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and appropriate measures for numerical variables, were used to summarize demographic characteristics, pain intensity, Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire scores, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results: Of the 70 participants, 50 (71.4%) reported very severe pain, 14 (20%) reported the worst possible pain, and 6 (8.6%) reported severe pain. Neck and shoulder symptoms were reported by all participants (100%), followed by upper-back symptoms (98.6%) and lower-back symptoms (94.3%). Knee symptoms were reported by 81.4% of participants, while ankle, elbow, and wrist symptoms were reported by 68.6%, 57.1%, and 54.3%, respectively. Hip symptoms were reported by 42.9% of participants. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal symptoms were frequently reported among the post-COVID-19 patients included in this study, particularly in the neck, shoulder, upper-back, and lower-back regions. These findings highlight the importance of assessing musculoskeletal complaints during post-COVID-19 follow-up. Larger prospective studies incorporating objective functional assessments are needed to determine symptom progression and rehabilitation needs.