Prevalence and factors associated with neck pain: a population-based study.
Caio Vitor Dos Santos Genebra, Nicoly Machado Maciel, Thiago Paulo Frascareli Bento and 2 others
PMID 28602744WHAT IT FOUND
About one in five adults reported neck pain in the past year.
It was more common in those who were widowed or separated, had low income or education, worked while sitting and leaning, or had two or more other diseases.
Key findings
0120.3% of adults reported neck pain in the past year, with women (22.7%) reporting it more often than men (18.0%), though the difference was not statistically significant.
02In the final model, neck pain remained associated with being widowed or separated, having low income, having 8 or fewer years of schooling, frequently working while sitting and leaning, and having two or more other diagnosed diseases.
03Sedentary leisure activities, such as watching TV or using computers, were not associated with neck pain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study did not collect data on the frequency, severity, intensity, or duration of neck pain, nor how it impacted daily activities, limiting the understanding of the burden of the condition. As a cross-sectional design, it cannot establish causality; associations found may reflect reverse causation or confounding factors. Self-reported data on pain and medical diagnoses may be subject to recall bias or misclassification. The sample was restricted to adults aged 20 and older in one Brazilian city, which may limit generalizability to other populations or age groups.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the association between neck pain and factors like low income or multiple diseases as proof that these cause neck pain. The cross-sectional design means these factors could also be consequences of chronic pain or share common underlying causes.