Non-specific neck pain in schoolchildren: prognosis and risk factors for occurrence and persistence. A 4-year follow-up study

This study investigated the natural course of neck pain (NP) in 9-12-year-olds during a 4-year follow-up. Risk factors for the occurrence and persistence of weekly NP were explored separately for boys and girls. At baseline, 1756 schoolchildren completed a questionnaire eliciting musculoskeletal pai...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pain (Amsterdam) Vol. 137; no. 2; p. 316
Main Authors: Ståhl, Minna, Kautiainen, Hannu, El-Metwally, Ashraf, Häkkinen, Arja, Ylinen, Jari, Salminen, Jouko J, Mikkelsson, Marja
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 15.07.2008
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Aging - physiology
Cervical Vertebrae - pathology
Cervical Vertebrae - physiopathology
Child
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Early Diagnosis
Female
Finland - epidemiology
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Musculoskeletal Diseases - epidemiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology
Neck Pain - diagnosis
Neck Pain - epidemiology
Neck Pain - physiopathology
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - physiopathology
Pain Measurement
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Sex Characteristics
Sex Distribution
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
Finland
ISSN:1872-6623, 1872-6623
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Summary:This study investigated the natural course of neck pain (NP) in 9-12-year-olds during a 4-year follow-up. Risk factors for the occurrence and persistence of weekly NP were explored separately for boys and girls. At baseline, 1756 schoolchildren completed a questionnaire eliciting musculoskeletal pain symptoms, other physical, and psychological symptoms and frequency of physical activity, and were tested for joint hypermobility. Symptoms during the preceding three months were asked using a five-level frequency classification. Re-evaluation was performed after one and four years using identical questionnaires. During follow-up, 24% reported none, 71% fluctuating, and 5% persistent weekly NP. The frequency of NP at baseline was linearly related to weekly NP during follow-up in both genders (P<0.001). Furthermore, a significant increasing linear trend towards a more persistent course of NP was seen in children with weekly other musculoskeletal and/or other physical and psychological symptoms at baseline. Among originally neck pain-free pre-/early adolescents, weekly other musculoskeletal pain symptoms (only in girls) and other physical and psychological symptoms (in both genders) predicted the occurrence of weekly NP during follow-up. In conclusion, neck pain in schoolchildren tends to fluctuate, but there also seems to exist a subgroup (5%) with persistent NP already in pre-/early adolescents, or even earlier. Co-occurrence of frequent other musculoskeletal symptoms and/or markers of psychological stress with frequent NP are risk indicators for a more persistent course, at least within next few years. Since adult chronic NP problems might originate in childhood, further studies are needed, including preventive interventions.
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ISSN:1872-6623
1872-6623
DOI:10.1016/j.pain.2007.09.012