Research Plus

Non-specific neck pain

A systematic review (seven papers) finds strong evidence that females and those with a previous history of neck complaints are predictive of nonspecific neck pain among office workers, but that many previously labelled risk factors are not predictive of it. High keyboard usage, poor understanding of computer placement position, and low social support (strong evidence) and high levels of psychosocial stress (moderate evidence) are not predictive of neck pain. There is limited evidence that keyboard distance from the edge of the desk, poor computer skills in men, high task difficulty and high muscular tension, are predictive of neck pain, and limited evidence that arm support during mouse and keyboard use, awkward body posture, high work flow, non-adjustable chair or desk, low decision latitude, and high mouse or high keyboard activity are not predictive of pain.

 

Occupational & Environmental Medicine 2012; online first: doi: 10.1136/oemed-2011-100459.  http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2012/05/11/oemed-2011-100459.abstract

Tags evidence based practice msd - musculoskeletal disorder neck pain stress

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2012 (vol. 09/2) pp38