Neck pain and associated factors in a sample of high school students in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil: cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of neck pain among high school students and to analyze associations with sociodemographic variables, use of electronic devices, habitual physical activity practices and mental health problems. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional epidemiological study on a sample of high school students in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: Participants were selected through cluster sampling in two stages and data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Data collection comprised the following steps: 1. sociodemographic characteristics; 2. use of electronic devices; 3. habitual physical activity levels; 3. mental health; and 4. neck pain. RESULTS: A total of 1,628 participants were interviewed. The prevalence of neck pain was 49.1% (95% confidence interval, CI 46.7 to 51.5), with 40.4% (95% CI 37.0 to 43.7) in men and 57.5% (95% CI 54.2 to 60.9) in women. The variables associated with in neck pain were: female (prevalence ratio, PR = 2.04), use of cell phone in standing posture (PR = 1.47), use of tablet in sitting posture (PR = 1.72), length of computer use greater than 3 hours/day (PR = 1.54), length of cell phone use greater than 3 hours/day (PR = 1.54), length of tablet use greater than 3 hours/ day (PR = 1.34) and mental health problems (PR = 1.56). CONCLUSION: There is high prevalence of neck pain among students and striking associations with female sex, use of electronic devices and mental health problems.Neck pain and associated factors in a sample of high school students in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil: cross-sectional study | ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Screen Time and Musculoskeletal Neck Pain in Children: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Lifestyle Recommendations

“…During the study analysis, the participants were school and university students (6 -25 years old) with either an equal or adjusted male-to-female ratio. Of the included research, two articles were from Brazil 18,19 , two from Portugal 20,,21 , two from Thailand 22 , and one study each was from Ethiopia 23 , Jordan 24 , Iran 25 18 , with 150 participants. These studies collected data through interviews, questionnaires, singular questions, and scales, but the most prominent of these scales was the Nordic questionnaire or an adapted version of the Nordic Questionnaire.…”

“…These studies collected data through interviews, questionnaires, singular questions, and scales, but the most prominent of these scales was the Nordic questionnaire or an adapted version of the Nordic Questionnaire. 31 All studies reviewed focused on total screen use, with all subjects using mobile devices; however, several studies found different screen use options, such as tablet 19,21,22,23,25,27,28 , video games 20,21,26,28 , computers 20,21,23,25,26,27,28 , and television use 20,21,25,26,28 . According to our search results, we divided the measurable outcomes into total screen use (including total phone, tablet, video games, computer, and television use) and phone use, and we created timelines for each outcome using the available data.…”