1 Disability & Rehabilitation, 2012, 1–6, Early Online Copyright © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd. ISSN 0963-8288 print/ISSN 1464-5165 online DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2011.645112 Purpose: To compare physical activity levels of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain with that of healthy participants. To investigate the impact of pain intensity, pain catastrophizing and depressive symptoms on the level of physical activity and disability of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain. Methods: Case-control study. Levels of physical activity and disability of adolescents and young adults with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain (n = 42) were compared with that of healthy participants (n = 42). For participants with chronic pain, measures of pain catastrophizing, pain intensity and depression were examined for their ability to explain levels of physical activity and disability. Statistics: multivariate regression analysis, Mann-Whitney testing, Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Participants with chronic pain were as active as healthy participants (p = 0.22) (confidence interval [CI] 95%), although they seemed to be less active in sports and heavy-loaded activities. Pain intensity (ß = 0.32) and depressive symptoms (ß = 0.36) contributed significantly to disability (CI 95%). There was no significant association between physical activity and disability (CI 95%). Conclusions: Chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain is a disabling condition for adolescents and young adults. The level of physical activity in the daily life of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain is comparable to that of healthy counterparts, although the performance of sports and heavy-loaded activities seems diminished. Both pain intensity and depressive symptoms are disabling. Keywords: Activity, adolescents, musculoskeletal, pain Introduction Chronic non-specific pain among adolescents is a common problem [1]. Previous research indicates that up to 25% of children and adolescents suffer from chronic or recurrent pain [2]. e incidence of pain increases in adolescence and is reported to be higher among girls [2]. In a substantial number of the adolescents with pain no specific medical cause can be identified. Headache, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal pain are the most reported pain localizations in adolescents with chronic pain [2–4]. For adolescents with chronic mus- culoskeletal pain, in contrast to those with headache and abdominal pain, research concerning the impact on daily-life functioning is lacking. In order to be able to provide treat- ments, more information about the consequences of pain on pain-related disability and the level of physical functioning is needed. In adults with musculoskeletal pain, the fear-avoidance model has been developed to explain disability and physical activity [5]. According to this behavioral model, a subgroup of adults with pain catastrophically interprets their pain as threatening. eir fear of movement or (re)injury may be RESEARCH PAPER Physical activity and disability among adolescents and young adults with non-specific musculoskeletal pain Nancy C. Stommen 1,2 , Jeanine A. Verbunt 1,3 , Simone L. Gorter 4 & Mariëlle E. Goossens 5 1 Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands, 2 SGL Rehabilitation Clinic, Heerlen, the Netherlands, 3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and 4 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands, and 5 Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, the Netherlands Correspondence: Nancy C. Stommen, MD, SGL Rehabilitation Clinic, Parallelweg 2, 6411 ND Heerlen, the Netherlands. Tel: 0031630442666. Fax: 0031455506575. E-mail: nstommen@sgl-zorg.nl Chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain is a dis- • abling condition for adolescents and young adults. Pain intensity and depressive symptoms predict • disability. e effect of pain on the physical-activity level of ado- • lescents and young adults with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain seems to be small. Assessment and improvement of emotional well-being • may improve treatment programs for adolescents and young adults with chronic non-specific musculoskel- etal pain. Implications for Rehabilitation (Accepted November 2011) Disabil Rehabil Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by 84.26.108.60 on 01/25/12 For personal use only.