The incidence of MSK disorder was 13.6% per person-year in the spine, 4.2% per person-year in a joint, and 4.6% per person-year at an extra-articular site. The greatest change in QoL was a 10 point drop in the 100 point SF-36 bodily pain dimension scale in the MSK group. Compared with controls, subjects with an MSK disorder had significantly greater reductions in the following dimensions: bodily pain (a −7.4 point difference in change), vitality (−2.7), general health (−1.8), and physical functioning (−1.3). Within the MSK group, chronic disorders had a greater impact than acute ones on the physical functioning (−2.1), role emotional (−8.4), and social functioning (−5.9) dimensions.
