Neck and shoulder pain in adolescents seldom occur alone: Results from the Norwegian Ungdata Survey. (11th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jahre, Henriette; Grotle, Margreth; Smedbråten, Kaja; Richardsen, Kåre Rønn; Bakken, Anders; Øiestad, Britt Elin
• Is Part Of: European journal of pain. Volume 25:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1751
• Page End: 1759
• Publication Date: 2021-05-11
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Pain -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1785
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3801

Abstract

Abstract: Background: No previous studies have investigated the prevalence of co‐occurring neck/shoulder pain, other musculoskeletal pain, headache and depressive symptoms in adolescents. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of isolated neck/shoulder pain and the co‐occurrence of neck/shoulder pain with other musculoskeletal pain, headache and depressive symptoms in Norwegian adolescents. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional study using data from the Norwegian Ungdata survey (2017–2019). Adolescents from almost all municipalities in Norway answered a comprehensive questionnaire, including physical complaints. We investigated the prevalence of self‐reported neck/shoulder pain in isolation and neck/shoulder pain in combination with other musculoskeletal pain, headache and depressive symptoms. The results were presented with per cent and stratified by school level and sex. Results: In total, 253, 968 adolescents (50% girls) participated in the study, of which 56.5% were from lower secondary school. The total prevalence of neck/shoulder pain was 24%, but only 5% reported isolated neck/shoulder pain. Among students reporting neck/shoulder pain, half of them also reported other musculoskeletal pain, and 50% of the boys and 70% of the girls reported co‐occurring headache. Depressive symptoms were reported in 28% of the boys and 45% of the girls with neck/shoulder pain. Conclusion: Neck/shoulder pain in adolescents is seldom isolated, but seems to co‐occur with headache, other musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms. Researchers and clinicians should keep a broader health perspective in mind when approaching adolescents with neck/shoulder pain. Significance: One in five adolescents reported neck/shoulder pain in this large population‐based study of Norwegian adolescents. A majority of adolescents reported neck/shoulder pain in co‐occurrence with other musculoskeletal pain, headache and depression. Researchers and clinicians should assess these comorbidities when assessing adolescents with neck/shoulder pain.