Musculoskeletal pain in Omanis, and the relationship to joint mobility and body mass index.

In a house-to-house population survey of representative areas of Oman, 920 adults were examined and questioned about musculoskeletal pain. Back pain was reported in 42% of females and 25% of males, and knee pain in 15% of females and 18% of males. Hip pain occurred in only three females (0.6%) and one male (0.2%), which is consistent with a protective effect of squatting. In rural communities musculoskeletal pain was more common, and less anatomically localized. Joint mobility scores were higher in females than males and, at all nine sites included in the Beighton score, laxity was significantly more common in females than males. The scores declined with age, and were higher than those reported in Europeans and similar to those in Africans and Indians. Extreme joint laxity (score 7-9), seen only in females, was associated with increased symptoms in those aged 16-25 years. Body mass index was higher in females with back or knee pain than in those without such pain. In males, only knee pain was associated with higher body mass index.