Table 3.
Frequency of aggravating and relieving factors for chronic pain (multiple responses)
| Male (178) | Female (227) | Total (405) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravating factors | |||
| Mild activity | 48 (25.9) | 62 (25.6) | 110 (25.8) |
| Heavy activity | 162 (87.6) | 207 (85.5) | 369 (86.4) |
| Cough | 3 (1.6) | 7 (2.9) | 10 (2.3) |
| Winter season* | 7 (3.8) | 1 (0.4) | 8 (1.9) |
| Hot weather | 4 (2.2) | 4 (1.7) | 8 (1.9) |
| Anxiety | 12 (6.5) | 12 (5) | 24 (5.6) |
| Depression* | 98 (53) | 152 (62.8) | 250 (58.5) |
| Loss of family support* | 8 (4.3) | 23 (9.5) | 31 (7.3) |
| Inadequate sleep | 9 (4.9) | 17 (7) | 26 (6.1) |
| Relieving factors | |||
| Medications | 167 (90.3) | 216 (89.3) | 383 (89.7) |
| Exercise | 75 (40.5) | 81 (33.5) | 156 (36.5) |
| Massage | 32 (17.3) | 45 (18.6) | 77 (18) |
| Cold (ice packs)* | 7 (3.8) | 1 (0.4) | 8 (1.9) |
| Heat compression | 6 (3.2) | 4 (1.7) | 10 (2.3) |
| Health tonics | 9 (4.9) | 10 (4.1) | 19 (4.4) |
| Rest * | 98 (53) | 152 (62.8) | 250 (58.5) |
| Consumption of Alcohol | 4 (2.2) | 2 (0.8) | 6 (1.4) |
| Chewing tobacco | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.4) | 2 (0.5) |
Figures in parenthesis are percentages. *P<0.05