According to recent research, neck pain is becoming an increasingly common problem throughout the world. The estimated 1 year incidence of neck pain ranges from 10-21% with higher rates reported in office workers and computer workers.
The mean overall prevalence of neck pain in the general population is approximately 23%, Prevalence is generally higher in women, higher income countries and higher in urban areas.
The mean overall prevalence of neck pain in the general population is approximately 23%, Prevalence is generally higher in women, higher income countries and higher in urban areas.
Risk Factors For neck Pain include:
1. Age (increasing risk up to 49 years) & Gender
2. Previous musculoskeletal pain,
3. High quantitative job demands,
4. Low social support at work,
5. Job insecurity,
6. Low physical capacity,
7. Poor computer workstation design and work posture,
8. Sedentary work position,
9. Repetitive work and precision work.
Evidence for Conservative Interventions for Non Specific Neck Pain
While between 33-65% of neck pain cases have recovered within 1 year, the majority of neck pain cases are episodic, “settling down” then “flaring up” throughout a person lifetime1.-Manual therapy, manipulation, paracetamol, specific exercises and multimodal interventions had a significant effect on short term pain.
-Both Manual Therapy and Acupuncture and manual resulted in significant short term improvements in disability.
-No interventions resulted in significant changes in long term pain or disability3.
-Despite the large influence of work conditions on the prevalence of neck pain, the evidence regarding workplace interventions is of low quality and does not currently support nor refute the benefit of workplace interventions in reducing neck pain4.
-There is evidence that interventions aimed at modifying workstations and worker posture are not effective in reducing the incidence of neck pain in workers2.
-For Chronic Neck pain there is moderate evidence that Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) produces significant pain reduction, equal to that of specific rehabilitative exercises in the short and long term and superior to GP management alone5.
-There are few studies and the results are inconclusive for SMT in Acute Neck Pain5.
Hoy DG et al 2010: The Epidemiology of Neck Pain. Best Practice and Research Clinical Rheumatology.
2 Cote P et al 2008: The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine.
3 Leaver et al 2010: Conservative interventions provide short term relief for non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy
4 Aas et al 2004: Workplace interventions for neck pain in workers: Cochrane Review.
5 Bronfort et al 2004: Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation and mobilixation for low back pain and neck pain. A Sytematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis. The Spine Journal.
2 Cote P et al 2008: The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine.
3 Leaver et al 2010: Conservative interventions provide short term relief for non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy
4 Aas et al 2004: Workplace interventions for neck pain in workers: Cochrane Review.
5 Bronfort et al 2004: Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation and mobilixation for low back pain and neck pain. A Sytematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis. The Spine Journal.