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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jan 2022Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, having an age-standardised prevalence rate of 27.0 per 1000 population in 2019. This literature review... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, having an age-standardised prevalence rate of 27.0 per 1000 population in 2019. This literature review describes the global epidemiology and trends associated with neck pain, before exploring the psychological and biological risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of neck pain.
METHODS
The PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine were searched up to May 21, 2021. Studies were included that used human subjects and evaluated the effects of biological or psychological factors on the occurrence or progression of neck pain, or reported its epidemiology.
RESULTS
Psychological risk factors, such as long-term stress, lack of social support, anxiety, and depression are important risk factors for neck pain. In terms of the biological risks, neck pain might occur as a consequence of certain diseases, such as neuromusculoskeletal disorders or autoimmune diseases. There is also evidence that demographic characteristics, such as age and sex, can influence the prevalence and development of neck pain, although further research is needed.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study provide a comprehensive and informative overview that should be useful for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of neck pain.
Topics: Anxiety; Humans; Neck Pain; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34980079
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4 -
Trials Jul 2020Nonspecific chronic neck pain is a fairly common disorder that causes a great impact, and it is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. Among a number of treatment... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Nonspecific chronic neck pain is a fairly common disorder that causes a great impact, and it is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. Among a number of treatment modalities described for its management, the most common approach is based on manual therapy and specific therapeutic exercise, which have shown a moderate effect on subjects with chronic non-specific neck pain. However, the effect times of these treatments have not been accurately detailed. Our study aims to break down and compare the effects of two experimental treatments based on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise.
METHODS
The short-term and mid-term changes produced by different therapies on subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain were studied. The sample was randomized divided into three groups: manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and placebo. As dependent variables of our research, we studied (a) pain, based on the visual analog scale and the pressure pain threshold, and (b) cervical disability, through the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Outcomes were registered on week 1, week 4, and week 12. The findings were analyzed statistically considering a 5% significance level (P ≤ 0.05).
RESULTS
No statistically significant differences (P 0.05) were obtained between the experimental groups, if they exist against the control group. Nonetheless, we found that manual therapy improved perceived pain before than therapeutic exercise, while therapeutic exercise reduced cervical disability before than manual therapy. Effect size (R) shows medium and large effects for both experimental treatments.
CONCLUSION
There are no differences between groups in short and medium terms. Manual therapy achieves a faster reduction in pain perception than therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic exercise reduces disability faster than manual therapy. Clinical improvement could potentially be influenced by central processes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-2vj7sw. Registered on 28 November 2018.
Topics: Brazil; Chronic Pain; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Neck Pain; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32723399
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04610-w -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Feb 2015Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30%. Most episodes of acute neck pain will resolve with or without... (Review)
Review
Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30%. Most episodes of acute neck pain will resolve with or without treatment, but nearly 50% of individuals will continue to experience some degree of pain or frequent occurrences. History and physical examination can provide important clues as to whether the pain is neuropathic or mechanical and can also be used to identify "red flags" that may signify serious pathology, such as myelopathy, atlantoaxial subluxation, and metastases. Magnetic resonance imaging is characterized by a high prevalence of abnormal findings in asymptomatic individuals but should be considered for cases involving focal neurologic symptoms, pain refractory to conventional treatment, and when referring a patient for interventional treatment. Few clinical trials have evaluated treatments for neck pain. Exercise treatment appears to be beneficial in patients with neck pain. There is some evidence to support muscle relaxants in acute neck pain associated with muscle spasm, conflicting evidence for epidural corticosteroid injections for radiculopathy, and weak positive evidence for cervical facet joint radiofrequency denervation. In patients with radiculopathy or myelopathy, surgery appears to be more effective than nonsurgical therapy in the short term but not in the long term for most people.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neck Pain
PubMed: 25659245
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008 -
The Medical Clinics of North America Mar 2020Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability. Acute neck pain largely resolves within 2 months. History and physical examination play a key role in ruling out... (Review)
Review
Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability. Acute neck pain largely resolves within 2 months. History and physical examination play a key role in ruling out some of the more serious causes for neck pain. The evidence for pharmacologic interventions for acute and chronic musculoskeletal neck pain is limited. Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability and productivity loss. Consultation with a physical medicine and rehabilitation spine specialist within 48 hours for acute pain and within 10 days for all patients with lower back pain may significantly decrease rate of surgical interventions and increase patient satisfaction.
Topics: Humans; Low Back Pain; Neck Pain; Patient Care Management; Prognosis; Time-to-Treatment
PubMed: 32035569
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2019.11.003 -
Neurologic Clinics Feb 2023Axial neck pain is a common and important problem in the outpatient setting. In isolation, neck pain tends to have a musculoskeletal etiology and responds best to... (Review)
Review
Axial neck pain is a common and important problem in the outpatient setting. In isolation, neck pain tends to have a musculoskeletal etiology and responds best to medication and targeted physical therapy. Careful history and physical examination are required to ascertain if there is a neurologic component in addition to the patient's neck pain. For patients needing surgical intervention, there are a variety of approaches and operations that can decompress the appropriate nerve root or the spinal cord itself. These operations are generally well-tolerated and provide significant benefit for appropriately selected patients.
Topics: Humans; Neck Pain; Diagnosis, Differential; Physical Examination
PubMed: 36400560
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2022.07.003 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Aug 2017Neck pain imposes a considerable personal and socioeconomic burden-it is one of the top five chronic pain conditions in terms of prevalence and years lost to... (Review)
Review
Neck pain imposes a considerable personal and socioeconomic burden-it is one of the top five chronic pain conditions in terms of prevalence and years lost to disability-yet it receives a fraction of the research funding given to low back pain. Although most acute episodes resolve spontaneously, more than a third of affected people still have low grade symptoms or recurrences more than one year later, with genetics and psychosocial factors being risk factors for persistence. Nearly half of people with chronic neck pain have mixed neuropathic-nociceptive symptoms or predominantly neuropathic symptoms. Few clinical trials are dedicated solely to neck pain. Muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective for acute neck pain, and clinical practice is mostly guided by the results of studies performed for other chronic pain conditions. Among complementary and alternative treatments, the strongest evidence is for exercise, with weaker evidence supporting massage, acupuncture, yoga, and spinal manipulation in different contexts. For cervical radiculopathy and facet arthropathy, weak evidence supports epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency denervation, respectively. Surgery is more effective than conservative treatment in the short term but not in the long term for most of these patients, and clinical observation is a reasonable strategy before surgery.
Topics: Acute Pain; Chronic Pain; Complementary Therapies; Diagnosis, Differential; Exercise; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Manipulation, Spinal; Neck Pain; Radiculopathy
PubMed: 28807894
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j3221 -
Pain Management Jan 2021Neck pain is a common condition with a high prevalence worldwide. Neck pain is associated with significant levels of disability and is widely considered an important... (Review)
Review
Neck pain is a common condition with a high prevalence worldwide. Neck pain is associated with significant levels of disability and is widely considered an important public health problem. Neck pain is defined as pain perceived between the superior nuchal line and the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra. In some types of neck conditions, the pain can be referred to the head, trunk and upper limbs. This article aims to provide an overview of the available evidence on prevalence, costs, diagnosis, prognosis, risk factors, prevention and management of patients with neck pain.
Topics: Acute Pain; Adult; Chronic Pain; Humans; Neck Pain; Pain Management
PubMed: 33234017
DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2020-0046 -
Europa Medicophysica Mar 2007Nonspecific (simple) neck pain is the commonest cause of neck symptoms and results from postural and mechanical causes. It includes pain following whiplash injury... (Review)
Review
Nonspecific (simple) neck pain is the commonest cause of neck symptoms and results from postural and mechanical causes. It includes pain following whiplash injury provided there is no bony injury or objective neurological deficit. The anatomy of the cervical spine is described, with the degenerative changes that are seen in patients with nonspecific neck pain, but also occur with ageing. The poor correlation between the degree of degeneration and presence and severity of symptoms is noted. A lack of specific pathology is also a feature of whiplash. The epidemiology, clinical presentation, investigation, and complications of nonspecific neck pain are described with a discussion of the controversial aspects of natural history, prognosis and therapy. Chronic whiplash is very common in some countries, but nonexistent in other countries and the factors which might explain this difference are considered. There is a great need for better quality studies to explore pathogenesis, natural history and factors including therapy that influence outcome.
Topics: Cervical Vertebrae; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Neck Pain; Whiplash Injuries
PubMed: 17369782
DOI: No ID Found -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Dec 2010Neck pain is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. It has a considerable impact on individuals and their families, communities, health-care systems, and... (Review)
Review
Neck pain is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. It has a considerable impact on individuals and their families, communities, health-care systems, and businesses. There is substantial heterogeneity between neck pain epidemiological studies, which makes it difficult to compare or pool data from different studies. The estimated 1 year incidence of neck pain from available studies ranges between 10.4% and 21.3% with a higher incidence noted in office and computer workers. While some studies report that between 33% and 65% of people have recovered from an episode of neck pain at 1 year, most cases run an episodic course over a person's lifetime and, thus, relapses are common. The overall prevalence of neck pain in the general population ranges between 0.4% and 86.8% (mean: 23.1%); point prevalence ranges from 0.4% to 41.5% (mean: 14.4%); and 1 year prevalence ranges from 4.8% to 79.5% (mean: 25.8%). Prevalence is generally higher in women, higher in high-income countries compared with low- and middle-income countries and higher in urban areas compared with rural areas. Many environmental and personal factors influence the onset and course of neck pain. Most studies indicate a higher incidence of neck pain among women and an increased risk of developing neck pain until the 35-49-year age group, after which the risk begins to decline. The Global Burden of Disease 2005 Study is currently making estimates of the global burden of neck pain in relation to impairment and activity limitation, and results will be available in 2011.
Topics: Female; Global Health; Health Care Costs; Humans; Incidence; Male; Neck Pain; Occupational Diseases; Prevalence; Sex Factors
PubMed: 21665126
DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2011.01.019 -
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation... Aug 2011Neck pain should not, and must not, be confused with cervical radicular pain. Equating the two conditions, or confusing them, results in misdiagnosis, inappropriate... (Review)
Review
Neck pain should not, and must not, be confused with cervical radicular pain. Equating the two conditions, or confusing them, results in misdiagnosis, inappropriate investigations, and inappropriate treatment that is destined to fail. So critical is the difference that pedagogically it is unwise to include the two topics in the same book, let alone the same article. However, traditions and expectations are hard to break. In deference to habit, this article addresses both entities, but does so by underplaying cervical radicular pain so as to retain the emphasis on neck pain.
Topics: Humans; Neck; Neck Pain; Radiculopathy
PubMed: 21824580
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2011.03.008