title: An investigation to determine the association between neck pain and upper limb disability for patients with non-specific neck pain: a secondary analysis.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between neck pain and upper limb disability in patients with non-specific neck pain (n = 151) recruited from physiotherapy departments in the United Kingdom. Baseline neck pain/disability was measured using the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ). Baseline upper limb disability was measured using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, Hand questionnaire (DASH). A range of baseline psychosocial variables were measured as potential confounding variables. Pairwise analysis revealed a positive correlation between NPQ score and DASH score (Pearsons' r = 0.799, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, stepwise linear regression indicated that increasing upper limb disability was predicted by two baseline variables: higher NPQ scores (B = 0.743) and lower pain self efficacy (PSE) scores (B = -0.489) {R(2) = 0.713; n = 100, p < 0.001}. This study provides preliminary evidence that patients with severe neck pain/disability also report severe upper limb disability. The relationship between neck pain/disability and upper limb disability was mediated by PSE. Clinically, the presence of severe neck pain or low PSE should direct clinicians towards an assessment of upper limb function. In these cases upper limb disability may need to be addressed as part of the neck management process.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Well Being, Sheffield Hallam University, Broomhall Road, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK. smclean@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sionnadh Mairi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Jennifer Klaber
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Moffett
authors.forename: Donald Macfie
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology; D006113:United Kingdom; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult