Risk factors for the onset of non-specific neck pain: a systematic review.
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.
McLean
Sionnadh Mairi
SM
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
May
Stephen
S
Klaber-Moffett
Jennifer
J
Sharp
Donald Macfie
DM
Gardiner
Eric
E
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