Risk factors for neck pain in office workers: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
Persisting neck pain is common in society. It has been reported that the prevalence of neck pain in office workers is much higher than in the general population. The costs to the worker, employer and society associated with work-related neck pain are known to be considerable and are escalating. The factors that place office workers at greater risk of developing neck pain are not understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and risk factors of work-related neck pain in Australian office workers.


METHODS
We will conduct a prospective cohort study. A cohort of office workers without neck pain will be followed over a 12 month period, after baseline measurement of potential risk factors. The categories of risk factors being evaluated are physical (cervical spine posture, range of movement, muscle endurance and exercise frequency), demographic (age, sex), work environment (sitting duration, frequency of breaks) and psychosocial (psychological distress and psychosocial work factors). Cox regression analysis will be used to identify risk factors associated with work-related neck pain, and will be expressed as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The data will also enable the incidence of neck pain in this population to be estimated.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to clarifying the magnitude of this occupational health problem these data could inform policy in workplaces and provide the basis for primary prevention of neck pain in office workers, targeting the identified risk factors.
Hush
Julia M
JM
School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, PO Box 170 Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia. j.hush@fhs.usyd.edu.au
Maher
Chris G
CG
Refshauge
Kathryn M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000453:epidemiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data