SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) For many Americans, pain has quietly become part of the workday.
Whether responding to emergencies, teaching students, serving customers, or working on construction sites, physically demanding jobs require workers to spend hours standing, walking, lifting, and moving every day. While these professions keep our communities running, they also place tremendous stress on the body.
A new national survey launched by Pacira BioSciences, Inc. and conducted by Wakefield Research, “Standing Strong: The Impact of Pain on America’s Workforce,” highlights how orthopedic pain is impacting workers in ways that extend far beyond physical discomfort. The findings suggest that pain may influence income, career advancement, workforce participation, and overall quality of life.
Conducted among 1,000 U.S. adults employed full time in occupations that require them to spend much of the day on their feet – including first responders, active military personnel, teachers, retail workers, food service/hospitality employees, and tradespeople – the survey reveals that pain has become a routine reality for many American workers.
Pain is Affecting More Than Just Physical Health
Workers surveyed report spending an average of seven hours on their feet during a typical workday, placing repeated stress on weight-bearing joints over time. According to the results, 85% of workers who spend time on their feet experience pain while working, including 41% who report experiencing pain often or all the time. The findings suggest that pain may affect more than day-to-day comfort.
More than half of respondents (54%) reported losing income due to pain through missed shifts, reduced hours, or unpaid leave, while nearly half (46%) said pain had prevented them from pursuing opportunities that could have advanced their careers or increased their earnings.
Pain also appears to influence workforce participation and shape long-term career decisions. About four in 10 workers (42%) reported missing 1-3 days of work because of pain within the last month. In addition, more than half (55%) said that given the opportunity to choose again, they would select a less physically demanding career to avoid the physical toll they experience today.
“Pain affects much more than the body,” said Dr. Anthony Boniello, orthopaedic surgeon at Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. “When patients are limited by persistent pain, it can influence their ability to work, remain active, participate in family activities, and maintain their overall quality of life.”
Many Workers Continue to Suffer in Silence
Despite these challenges, many workers report continuing to work through pain rather than seeking help. Eight in 10 workers (81%) said they have experienced pain without telling a supervisor or colleague, while nearly 90% said they typically push through pain rather than ask for assistance.
When asked why they remain silent, many respondents cited concerns about workplace perception. Forty-one percent were worried that speaking up could affect their job security, while 39% said they did not want to appear weak or unable to perform their responsibilities. These findings suggest that for many workers, pain has become normalized rather than addressed.
“One of the biggest challenges we see is that patients often wait too long before talking with a healthcare provider,” Dr. Boniello said. “Early evaluation and treatment may help patients maintain activity and function before pain becomes chronic and even more limiting.”
Knee Pain Emerges as the Leading Concern
While workers reported pain affecting multiple areas of the body, including the back, shoulders, and hips, one area stood out above the rest: the knees. Nearly three-quarters (74%) reported knee pain, making it the most commonly reported type of pain among workers surveyed. More than half (56%) said they live with chronic knee pain that lasts for three months or longer.
Outside the workplace, the burden continues. Among respondents whose primary pain is in their knees, two-thirds (66%) reported that pain negatively affected their social lives and personal relationships, illustrating how chronic pain can influence nearly every aspect of daily living.
While orthopedic pain can affect multiple areas of the body, chronic knee pain may have particularly significant implications because of its direct impact on mobility and physical function. One of the leading causes of chronic knee pain is knee osteoarthritis (OA), a progressive joint disease that affects nearly 15 million Americans and can substantially limit daily activities.
“Chronic knee pain can gradually affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life,” Dr. Boniello said. “For patients with knee OA, maintaining mobility is often essential – not only for work, but for preserving independence and staying engaged in the activities they enjoy.”
Chronic Knee Pain is Affecting Workers Across Generations
Although chronic knee pain is often associated with aging, the survey suggests its effects extend across generations.
Among respondents aged 45 years and older, 28% reported chronic knee pain, underscoring the substantial burden among older adults. At the same time, younger workers experienced notable career consequences. Compared with workers aged 45 years and older, workers younger than 45 were more likely to miss work because of pain, lose income, and report that pain had limited career advancement opportunities.
These findings suggest that chronic knee pain is not simply an issue affecting older adults – it may also influence earning potential and career development during prime working years.
A Gap Between Current Pain Management Approaches and Interest in Long-Lasting, Non-Opioid Options
Workers continue to rely primarily on conservative approaches to manage their symptoms. Among respondents with chronic knee pain, 63% reported using over-the-counter medications, 43% reported participating in physical therapy, and 24% reported using prescription opioids. At the same time, nearly all (98%) workers living with chronic knee pain said they would consider a long-lasting, non-opioid treatment option if it provided meaningful pain relief.
“Every patient is different, so treatment decisions should be individualized,” Dr. Boniello said. “Depending on symptom severity and functional goals, treatment may include physical therapy, exercise, weight management, and non-opioid treatment options. The encouraging finding from this survey is that patients are clearly interested in learning about long-lasting alternatives.”
Consider Long-Lasting, Non-Opioid Treatment Options
As healthcare providers help patients manage their knee OA pain and stay active, conversations often focus on finding treatment options that provide long-lasting relief and fit each person’s individual needs.
One option that addresses the need for lasting relief is ZILRETTA® (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension). This single injection, extended-release pain management option is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for knee OA that uses extended-release microsphere technology. It’s designed to slowly release medication into the knee joint over time after a single injection, ensuring the patient’s pain is continuously managed for up to three months.
“In my practice, I’ve used ZILRETTA for approximately five years and have treated more than 1,000 patients with it,” Dr. Boniello said. “In my experience, it provides long-lasting pain relief more effectively than traditional corticosteroid injections, while helping reduce patients’ reliance on over-the-counter or opioid pain medications. That can make a meaningful difference for patients who want to stay active, continue working, and potentially delay more invasive interventions.”
If persistent knee pain is limiting your daily activities, consider speaking with your healthcare provider to learn more about long-lasting, non-opioid options, such as ZILRETTA. For more information or to download a survey report and infographic with additional survey findings, visit www.pacira.com/patients/insights/standing-strong/.
This article is sponsored by Pacira BioSciences, Inc., manufacturer of ZILRETTA.
Indication and Important Risk Information
What is ZILRETTA?
ZILRETTA® (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension) is an extended-release corticosteroid approved to manage osteoarthritis knee pain. The benefits and risks of repeat injections have not been demonstrated.
Who should not receive ZILRETTA?
You should not receive a ZILRETTA injection if you are allergic to corticosteroids, triamcinolone acetonide, or any other component of the product.
What possible side effects of corticosteroids could occur with ZILRETTA?
• Rare serious allergic reactions
• Effects in the injected knee such as infection (with pain, swelling and restricted motion) or joint damage
• Increased chance of getting an infection, and a decreased ability to fight an infection
• Effects on hormone production. These effects can be reversible
• Elevated blood pressure, sodium and water retention, and potassium loss
• Intestinal perforation if you have certain gastrointestinal disorders
• Weakening of bones
• Changes in behavior or mood disturbances
• Increased pressure inside the eye
What are the most common side effects of receiving a ZILRETTA injection?
In multiple clinical trials, the most common side effects seen in people taking ZILRETTA were joint pain, headache, joint swelling, back pain, sore throat and runny nose, upper respiratory tract infection, and bruising.
What should you tell your doctor BEFORE receiving a ZILRETTA injection?
Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking (including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines) and about any medical conditions, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, diverticulitis or other gastrointestinal disorders, kidney problems, diabetes, glaucoma, behavior or mood disorders, and/or infections.
What should you tell your doctor AFTER receiving a ZILRETTA injection?
Contact your doctor if you develop a fever or other signs of infection, have an increase in pain along with swelling of the injected knee, restriction of joint motion, or a general feeling of discomfort. Contact your doctor immediately if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles, or for any new or worsening changes in behavior or mood.
These are not all of the possible side effects with ZILRETTA or corticosteroid medications. Please see the full Prescribing Information at www.ZILRETTALabel.com/PI.pdf. Always contact your doctor if you have questions or experience any side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
© 2026 Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. ZILRETTA is a registered trademark of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. All rights reserved.
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PP-ZA-US-1110 06/26
