Is Your Poor Digestion Related to Your Muscle and Joint Pain?

Dr Gi Ming Chan
May 2
2 min read

Updated: Jun 11

The musculoskeletal system is made out of bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle, and tendon. It enables movement and physical activity. Musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, low back pain, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and soft tissue disorders like rotator cuff syndrome affect 1.3 billion people worldwide, representing a global health burden. Recent studies show that the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, has a major role in influencing musculoskeletal disease onset and progression through mechanisms that involve systemic inflammation and immune modulation. The gut microbiome comprises more than 3 millions genes, and each person features a unique microbiome composition. The mechanism may originate from the gut microbiome-distant soft tissue inflammation axis, whereby the immune system response triggered by gut microbial profiles leads to inflammation at the extremities and joints like the shoulder joint or rotator cuff tendons, ankles and knees.

The normal function of the permeability in our intestinal lining refers to the ability of the intestinal barrier to selectively allow for the passage of pathogens, toxins, antigens, nutrients, water-electrolytes, while maintaining barrier function against the entry of harmful substances. An impairment of permeability, meaning the disruption of the tight junctions, is known as leaky gut syndrome, which is associated with a dysregulated immune system, and higher inflammatory systemic conditions associated with high levels of toxins in the body. Such a state promotes a chronic state of inflammation and autoimmunity. This systemic high toxin levels promotes proinflammatory systemic responses, thereby elevating one’s sensitivity to pain. Leaky gut may decrease the ability to recover and/or repair musculoskeletal tissues after acute damage, inflammation and injury.

There are many factors that cause leaky gut. However, the main causes of leaky gut are diet, stress, intake of medications, toxins, infections and obesity. Other contributors are lack of exercise, intense physical activity or pregnancy.

Treating and restoring the gut microbiome through a healthy diet, probiotics or prebiotics, may be a potential strategy to treat local and systemic inflammation as well as pain. It is important to avoid consumption of foods you’re sensitive to, processed and sugary foods, preservatives, artificial dyes, seed oils, alcohol and unnecessary use of NSAID and antibiotics. These foods are hard to break down and cause dysbiosis. They can kill the good bacteria and feed the bad bacteria. Stress management is also important. High or prolonged emotional, physical and chemical stress can contribute to leaky gut. The stress hormone cortisol induces inflammation, and wears down our gut lining. It suppresses our defenses and our ability to heal and regenerate.

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