Vitamin D Deficiency: Implications in the Rehabilitation Setting
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency, which can result from inadequate sun exposure, dietary intake, or problems with absorption, is rarely documented in the rehabilitation literature. Most likely, it is rarely thought of by the rehabilitation profession. This is problematic because vitamin D deficiency can present as musculoskeletal pain, which is commonly seen in both outpatient clinics and inpatient rehabilitation units. The populations with the greatest risk include the homebound elderly, people with pigmented skin, people with cultural and social avoidance of the sun, people who live in wintertime in climates above and below latitudes of 35 degrees, and people with gastrointestinal malabsorption. DESIGN: The review was done using PubMed, Ovid, and MDConsult using the search terms pain, chronic pain, musculoskeletal pain, vitamin D deficiency, and osetomalacia. The search revealed 107 articles and was narrowed down to 51 articles that focused on vitamin D deficiency and its musculoskeletal manifestations. RESULTS: A direct correlation was noted between vitamin D deficiency and musculoskeletal pain. At-risk populations are not acquiring enough vitamin D through sun exposure, and the current recommended daily allowances from dietary sources including supplements are too low to compensate for this lack of sun exposure. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency produced an increase in muscle strength and a marked decrease in back and lower-limb pain within 6 mos. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency should be included in the differential diagnosis in the evaluation of musculoskeletal pain complaints in the rehabilitation setting, and treatment of any identified deficiency should be considered a potentially important component of the treatment regimen.
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Vitamin D affects muscle strength, muscle size, and muscle performance.
“Vitamin D is also involved in neuromuscular function. In fact, it affects muscle strength [62], muscle size, and muscle performance [66].”
From Novel Insights on Intake of Fish and Prevention of Sarcopenia: All Reasons for an Adequate Consumption (2020) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Heath, K. M., & Elovic, E. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (US)
- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (US)
- Corresponding author
- Heath, Kelly Myriah
- ORCID
- Heath, Kelly Myriah
- Venue
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2006-11
- Volume
- 85
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 916-923
- ISSN
- 0894-9115 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2090573488
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Keywords
- vitamin D deficiency, musculoskeletal pain, chronic pain, rehabilitation, osteomalacia, sun exposure, dietary intake, gastrointestinal malabsorption, older adults, differential diagnosis, muscle strength, back pain, lower limb pain
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Pain, Rehabilitation, Sunlight, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency
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