Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden
Abstract Background Neck and shoulder pain is common in the general population, but studies on factors related to the risk of neck and shoulder pain have produced inconclusive results. Known factors related to pain include general physical activity, exercise, sleep disorders, and lifestyle, but furt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04753-0 |
| _version_ | 1818937158991347712 |
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| author | Gunnel Peterson Nicklas Pihlström |
| author_facet | Gunnel Peterson Nicklas Pihlström |
| author_sort | Gunnel Peterson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Neck and shoulder pain is common in the general population, but studies on factors related to the risk of neck and shoulder pain have produced inconclusive results. Known factors related to pain include general physical activity, exercise, sleep disorders, and lifestyle, but further research is needed to improve our ability to prevent neck and shoulder pain. The aim was to investigate whether neck and shoulder pain are associated with physical domains (i.e., aerobic physical activities, general physical activities, and sitting time), sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and/or working time. Methods This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden in 2017 and included 16,167 individuals, aged 18 to 63 years. We administered a questionnaire to determine neck and shoulder pain, the time spent in general physical activity or aerobic physical activity, the time spent sitting, sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and the time spent working. Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were explored using logistic regression. Results Significant factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were: overall health, sleep quality, and aerobic exercise. The odds of sustaining neck and shoulder pain increased with moderate or poor health (odds ratios [ORs]: 2.3 and 2.8, respectively) and sleep disorders (OR: 1.7). Conversely, aerobic physical activity performed more than 60 min/week at a level that enhanced respiratory and heart rate was associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck and shoulder pain (OR: 0.8). Conclusions Although no causal relationships could be determined in the present study, the results highlight important associations between aerobic exercise, undisturbed sleep, good health, and the absence of upper body pain. Exercises that enhance breathing and heart rate were associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck or shoulder pain, but there was no association between general physical activity and upper body pain. Therefore, clinicians may not recommend low-intensity activities, such as walking, for preventing or improving neck and shoulder pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:47:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35e54e44303a41ba80fb0fc61aa8a1a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:47:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-35e54e44303a41ba80fb0fc61aa8a1a92022-12-21T19:51:15ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742021-10-012211910.1186/s12891-021-04753-0Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in SwedenGunnel Peterson0Nicklas Pihlström1Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala UniversityCentre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Neck and shoulder pain is common in the general population, but studies on factors related to the risk of neck and shoulder pain have produced inconclusive results. Known factors related to pain include general physical activity, exercise, sleep disorders, and lifestyle, but further research is needed to improve our ability to prevent neck and shoulder pain. The aim was to investigate whether neck and shoulder pain are associated with physical domains (i.e., aerobic physical activities, general physical activities, and sitting time), sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and/or working time. Methods This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden in 2017 and included 16,167 individuals, aged 18 to 63 years. We administered a questionnaire to determine neck and shoulder pain, the time spent in general physical activity or aerobic physical activity, the time spent sitting, sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and the time spent working. Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were explored using logistic regression. Results Significant factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were: overall health, sleep quality, and aerobic exercise. The odds of sustaining neck and shoulder pain increased with moderate or poor health (odds ratios [ORs]: 2.3 and 2.8, respectively) and sleep disorders (OR: 1.7). Conversely, aerobic physical activity performed more than 60 min/week at a level that enhanced respiratory and heart rate was associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck and shoulder pain (OR: 0.8). Conclusions Although no causal relationships could be determined in the present study, the results highlight important associations between aerobic exercise, undisturbed sleep, good health, and the absence of upper body pain. Exercises that enhance breathing and heart rate were associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck or shoulder pain, but there was no association between general physical activity and upper body pain. Therefore, clinicians may not recommend low-intensity activities, such as walking, for preventing or improving neck and shoulder pain.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04753-0Neck painMusculoskeletal painShoulder painEpidemiologyExerciseHealth |
| spellingShingle | Gunnel Peterson Nicklas Pihlström Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Neck pain Musculoskeletal pain Shoulder pain Epidemiology Exercise Health |
| title | Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden |
| title_full | Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden |
| title_short | Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden |
| title_sort | factors associated with neck and shoulder pain a cross sectional study among 16 000 adults in five county councils in sweden |
| topic | Neck pain Musculoskeletal pain Shoulder pain Epidemiology Exercise Health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04753-0 |
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