Chronic Musculoskeletal Issues in Hispanic Populations and Impact

Chronic Back Pain, Knee Osteoarthritis, and Shoulder Issues in Hispanic Populations

Musculoskeletal mobility issues are common health challenges that affect movement and daily life. In Mexican and Mexican American populations, these problems often include arthritis (especially in the knees), chronic low back pain, and injuries from work that impact the shoulders, wrists, and legs. These conditions can make walking, standing, or doing simple tasks harder, particularly as people get older. Factors like physically demanding jobs in farming, construction, or meatpacking, along with higher rates of obesity, play a big role in why these issues appear more often.

Key Musculoskeletal Problems in These Populations

Studies show that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) cause a lot of disability. In Mexico, low back pain leads as the top reason for years lived with disability, and conditions like osteoarthritis have risen sharply over time.

• Low back pain is among the most common issues.
• Knee osteoarthritis affects many adults, leading to pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.
• Shoulder problems, such as rotator cuff injuries, and elbow conditions, such as epicondylitis (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow), are common.
• Wrist and leg injuries often come from repeated heavy lifting or awkward positions at work.

In Mexico, MSDs were the main cause of years lived with disability from 1990 to 2021, with a 57.3% increase in rates per 100,000 people (from 1,458.4 to 2,293.7). Low back pain had the highest rate in 2021 at 840.6 years lived with disability per 100,000 (Martínez-López et al., 2024).

A study using Global Burden of Disease data found big increases in prevalence, new cases, and disability from MSDs in Mexico between 1990 and 2019. By 2019, these disorders ranked first for years lived with disability (YLD), with risk factors including jobs that involve heavy strain and high body mass index (Martínez-Valle et al., 2023).

Arthritis, mostly osteoarthritis, affects about 20-25% of adults aged 40 and older in Mexico. People with arthritis have a higher risk of hospital stays—23% more overall, and up to 48% more if it limits daily activities (University of Texas Medical Branch, 2025).

Among Mexican Americans and other Latinos in the U.S., similar patterns appear. Many work in tough jobs like agriculture or meatpacking, where repetitive motions and heavy work lead to pain.

• In one study of Latino meatpacking workers, most reported pain in the upper back, arms, and wrists. Over 90% of people in similar jobs experience pain in these areas (Rowland et al., 2021).
• Immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers show high rates of rotator cuff syndrome (around 19-23%), epicondylitis (19-22%), and low back pain (14-21%). Non-farmworkers often had more lower leg issues, which limited mobility during mobility tests (Cartwright et al., 2015).

Obesity worsens the problem by placing extra stress on joints, especially the knees. Hispanic Americans with arthritis often report more activity limits than non-Hispanic whites, with 44% facing restrictions in daily tasks like walking or dressing (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.).

Older Mexican American adults with pain face extra risks. Pain is linked to a higher risk of frailty, which means weakness, slow walking, and loss of strength that make mobility even harder (National Institutes of Health, n.d.).

Mexican American women tend to have higher risks for disability in everyday activities compared to men. This may be tied to a mix of work demands, family roles, and health factors.

Why These Issues Happen More Often

Many Mexican and Mexican American people work in jobs that require long hours of physical effort.

• Agriculture involves bending, lifting, and repetitive tasks that strain the back, shoulders, and knees.
• Construction and meatpacking add risks from forceful movements and awkward postures.
• These jobs often pay by the hour or by output, so workers push through pain without breaks.

Obesity rates are higher in these groups, which worsens joint stress and inflammation. A lack of early care due to limited insurance or resources allows problems to grow worse.

How Nurse Practitioners and Integrative Chiropractic Care Can Help

Nurse practitioners (NPs) and chiropractors offer valuable support through pain relief, exercise plans, and rehab that align with cultural needs.

• NPs provide culturally competent care, meaning they understand language, family values, and community concerns to build trust.
• Chiropractic care uses hands-on methods, such as spinal adjustments, to ease back pain, improve movement, and reduce nerve pressure.
• Integrative approaches combine chiropractic with physical therapy, nutrition advice, and pain management without heavy reliance on drugs.

Dr. Alexander Jimenez, a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (APRN, FNP-BC), runs a practice in El Paso, Texas, that focuses on these methods. He specializes in treating back pain, sciatica, arthritis-related conditions, and work injuries using non-invasive techniques such as spinal decompression, acupuncture, and functional rehabilitation programs that build strength, flexibility, and posture. His team helps patients recover from occupational and chronic conditions with personalized plans (Jimenez, n.d.).

These services help people return to daily activities and work with less pain. Evidence-based options like chiropractic and physical rehab work well for chronic low back pain and other joint problems, though access can vary by ethnicity (Boston Medical Center, n.d.).

Early help and lifestyle changes, such as staying active and managing weight, can help slow these issues. Community education and better job safety also make a difference.

In summary, musculoskeletal mobility concerns in Mexican and Mexican American populations often stem from arthritis in the knees, chronic low back pain, and work-related shoulder, elbow, wrist, and leg injuries. Obesity and demanding jobs increase the risks, leading to more limitations in movement and daily life, especially for older adults and women. With culturally sensitive care from NPs and integrative chiropractic options, many people can manage pain, rebuild function, and improve quality of life.

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References

Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Hispanic/Latino wellness guide. https://www.arthritis.org/getmedia/1ad1c86d-79ac-4f82-ba93-9942dd7da93a/Hispanic-Wellness-Guide-VF.pdf

Boston Medical Center. (n.d.). New study finds racial and ethnic disparities persist in access to chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation. https://www.bmc.org/news/new-study-finds-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-persist-access-chiropractic-care-and-physical

Cartwright, M. S., Walker, F. O., Blocker, J. N., Schulz, M. R., Arcury, T. A., Grzywacz, J. G., Trejo, M. A., & Quandt, S. A. (2015). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 70(1), 29–36. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/

Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Injury specialists. https://dralexjimenez.com/

Martínez-López, D., et al. (2024). Analysis of musculoskeletal disorders-associated disability in Mexico from 1990 to 2021. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386887/

Martínez-Valle, A., et al. (2023). Trends in the disease burden of musculoskeletal disorders in Mexico from 1990-2019. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37775642/

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Older Mexican American adults experiencing pain are at risk of developing frailty. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty

Rowland, S. A., Ramos, A. K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Trinidad, N., Johnson-Beller, R., Struwe, L., Quintero, S. A., & Pozehl, B. (2021). Musculoskeletal pain and cardiovascular risk in Hispanic/Latino meatpacking workers. Workplace Health & Safety, 69(8), 363–371. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21650799211016908

University of Texas Medical Branch. (2025, May 12). Arthritis hospitalization risk in Mexico: UTMB study. https://www.utmb.edu/spph/about-us/news/article/news/2025/05/12/arthritis-hospitalization-risk-mexico-utmb-study