Risk factors for neck pain: a longitudinal study in the general population

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine the 1-year cumulative incidence of episodic neck pain and to explore its associations with individual risk factors, including a history of previous neck injury. A baseline cross-sectional survey of an adult general population sample made up of all 7669 adults aged 18-75 years, registered with two family practices in South Manchester, United Kingdom, identified the study population of adults with no current neck pain. This study population was surveyed again 12 months later to identify all those who had experienced neck pain during the follow-up period. At follow-up, cumulative 1-year episode incidence of neck pain was estimated at 17.9% (95% confidence interval 16.0-19.7%). Incidence was independent of age, but was more common in women. A history of previous neck injury at baseline was a significant risk factor for subsequent neck pain in the follow-up year (risk ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.5), independent of gender and psychological status. Other independent baseline risk factors for subsequent neck pain included number of children, poor self-assessed health, poor psychological status and a past history of low back pain. We have carried out a prospective study in a general population sample and demonstrated that established risk factors for chronic pain predict future episodes of neck pain, and shown that in addition a history of neck injury is an independent and distinct risk factor. This finding may have major public health and medicolegal implications.

Neck pain and disability following motor vehicle accidents?a cohort study

“…The corresponding figures of prevalence in the control group were 29%, with a higher frequency among women (34%) than men (19%). This gender pattern has been reported in several studies [4,8,11]. However, among subjects suffering from whiplashassociated neck pain, gender appears to have no influence on residual pain in the long term [5].…”

Development and evaluation of ′neck pain and functional limitation scale′: A validation study in the Asian context

“…[20] However, the patients from the 'focused interview' group identiÞ ed activities such as turning head during driving, viewing television, carrying things and dressing as the main problems that resulted from their neck pain. These were included as items under the domain of activities of daily living.…”

Individual, physical and psychological risk factors for neck pain in Australian office workers: a 1-year longitudinal study

“…Reports of 1-year prevalence vary from 15 to 44% [9,10,33]. Prevalence of neck pain is even higher in office workers than in the general community, reaching levels as high as 50 to 60% [2,6,8,19].…”