Women self-report slightly higher rates of musculoskeletal conditions, joint pain, limitations in activities of daily living, bed days, and lost workdays due to musculoskeletal conditions than men do. The etiology of the differences noted between women in men in these conditions is multifactorial and is not solely or consistently attributable to differences in sex hormones.
Women report musculoskeletal and chronic joint pain at slightly higher rates than men do. The greatest difference is in self-reported rates for arthritis, with more than 25 women in 100 over the age of 18 years reporting they have arthritis, compared to 19 men. However, more than half of both men (51%) and women (56%) report they have musculoskeletal pain, in either the back, neck, or joints. (Reference Table 9A.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
The knee is the most common joint with chronic pain reported by both men and women, followed by the shoulder. Women are much more likely than men to complain of issues related to their patellofemoral joint and to present with anterior knee pain syndrome. Several etiologies have been suggested for this, including sex-based differences in anatomic alignment, such as larger Q-angle; tendency toward foot pronation; increased femoral anteversion, genu valgum, external tibial torsion, and tibia vara; as well as a variety of other anatomic differences such as patella alta, shallower femoral notch, narrower patellae, patellar ligamentous hypermobility, insufficient VMO versus vastus lateralis, generalized ligamentous laxity, tight lateral patellar retinaculum, and tighter IT band.
Shoulder and elbow joint pain is reported at similar rates by men and women. For all other joints, women are slightly more likely to report chronic joint pain. (Reference Table 9A.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
Women also report they experience limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) in higher rates for musculoskeletal conditions, with the exception of fractures or bone/joint injuries, than men do. Again, arthritis is identified as the most common cause of ADL limitations due to musculoskeletal conditions. In 2012, nearly 10.7 million women reported ADL due to musculoskeletal conditions, while 7.5 million men did so. (Reference Table 9A.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
Women account for nearly two-thirds (64%) of the 528.3 million bed days reported in 2012 due to a musculoskeletal condition. A bed day is defined as one-half or more days in bed due injury or illness, excluding hospitalization. The greater number of total bed days reported by women is due to both a higher number with musculoskeletal-caused bed days, and a higher mean number of days in bed (9.9 days versus 8.2 days for men).
Women also account for slightly more than half (53%) of the 216.5 million lost work days due to musculoskeletal conditions, because of the greater number of women reporting lost work days (15.4 million versus 12.7 million men). However, men reported a mean of 8.0 lost workdays due to musculoskeletal conditions, while women reported a mean of 7.5 days. (Reference Table 9A.1 PDF [1] CSV [2])
Links:
[1] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9A.1.pdf
[2] https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/T9A.1.csv