--- title: Is PMS severity linked to muscle and joint pain in nursing students? description: Nursing students with higher PMS severity had significantly more widespread pain in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips, and those with pain used more h url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-premenstrual-syndrome-severity-and-musculoskeletal-pain-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is PMS severity linked to muscle and joint pain in nursing students? Survey study, 2026 # Is PMS severity linked to muscle and joint pain in nursing students? Nursing students with higher PMS severity had significantly more widespread pain in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips, and those with pain used more healthcare services and took more sick leave. The link is strong. Early or limited evidence 257 female nursing students ## What they did Surveyed 257 female nursing students using standardized questionnaires. Researchers assessed PMS severity using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and asked about pain or discomfort in nine different body regions using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. ## What they found 82.9% had PMS and 90.7% reported musculoskeletal pain. Students with pain had much higher PMS severity scores (148.5 ± 28.5) compared to those without pain (90.5 ± 26.5). For every point increase in PMS severity, pain likelihood increased. The lower back was most affected (75.9%), followed by upper back (42.0%) and hips (39.3%). Pain in the neck, shoulder, lower back, and hips was linked to increased healthcare use, medication use, and sick leave. ## What it means for you PMS severity and widespread pain appear to go together in nursing students, affecting their ability to work and study. This is a snapshot study, so we cannot say whether PMS causes pain or vice versa. All participants were nursing students in one setting, so results may not apply to other groups. 82.9% Had PMS 90.7% Had musculoskeletal pain 1.08 Odds ratio per PMS severity point ## About the study Original title Association between premenstrual syndrome severity and musculoskeletal pain among nursing students: a cross-sectional study Authors Okan F, Okan S Journal BMC nursing Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 233 What was tested None (observational study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-04776-9](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-04776-9) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Non-randomised trial, 2026 Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 1999 How common are menstrual problems in teenage girls and do they relate to early puberty? Randomised trial, 2026 Is Pilates exercise more effective than stretching for reducing PMS symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 2026 Can yoga reduce PMS pain in teenage girls? Survey study, 2025 What is premenstrual syndrome and how can it be managed in adolescent girls? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗