Factors Associated with Neck and Shoulder Pain in Volunteers

The aims of the present study were 1) to examine the association between neck and shoulder pain (NSP) and lifestyle in the general population and 2) to examine if sagittal spino-pelvic malalignment is more prevalent in NSP.

A total of 107 volunteers (mean age, 64.5 years) were recruited in this study from listings of resident registrations in Kihoku region, Wakayama, Japan. Feeling pain or stiffness in the neck or shoulders was defined as an NSP. The items studied were: 1) the existence or lack of NSP and their severity (using VAS scale), 2) Short Form-36 (SF-36), 3) Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D), 4) Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), 5) a detailed history consisting of 5 domains as being relevant to the psychosocial situation of patients with chronic pain, 6) A VAS of pain and numbness to the arm, and from thoracic region to legs. The radiographic parameters evaluated were also measured. Participants with a VAS score of 40 mm or higher and less were divided into 2 groups. Association of SF-36, SRQ-D, and PCS with NSP were assessed using multiple regression analysis.

In terms of QoL, psychological assessment and a detailed history, bodily pain in SF-36, SRQ-D, and family stress were significantly associated with NSP. A VAS of pain and numbness to the arm, and from thoracic region to legs, was significantly associated with NSP. There were no statistical correlations between the VAS and radiographic parameters of the cervical spine. Among the whole spine sagittal measurements, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sacral slope (SS) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were significantly associated with NSP.

In this study, we showed the factors associated with NSP. Large SS and reduced SVA were significantly associated with NSP, while cervical spine measurements were not.