title: Risk factors for the onset of non-specific neck pain: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder, but little is known about which individuals develop neck pain. This systematic review investigated factors that constitute a risk for the onset of non-specific neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A range of electronic databases and reference sections of relevant articles were searched to identify appropriate articles. Studies investigating risk factors for the onset of non-specific neck pain in asymptomatic populations were included. All studies were prospective with at least 1 year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 independent cohort studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Thirteen studies were assessed as high quality. Female gender, older age, high job demands, low social/work support, being an ex-smoker, a history of low back disorders and a history of neck disorders were linked to the development of non-specific neck pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various clinical and sociodemographic risk factors were identified that have implications for occupational health and health policy. However, there was a lack of good-quality research investigating the predictive nature of many other variables.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Well Being, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Campus, 38 Collegiate Crescent, Broomhall Road, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK. S.McLean@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sionnadh Mairi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaber-Moffett
authors.forename: Donald Macfie
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardiner
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012944:Social Support