Exploring the Causes of Neck Pain and Disability as Perceived by Those Who Experience the Condition: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Designing effective treatment protocols for neck-related disability has proven difficult. Disability has been examined from structural, emotional, and cognitive perspectives, with evidence supporting a multidimensional nature. The patient's perspective of their condition has found increasing value for patient-centred, evidence-informed care. This cross-sectional study utilized descriptive thematic analysis to examine perceptions of causation in 118 people with neck pain. The Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire was used to capture perceptions of causation for neck pain symptoms. The Neck Disability Index, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the P4 pain intensity numeric rating scale were also collected. Eight main themes were found for the cause(s) of neck pain: posture and movement, structure and mechanism, emotions, predisposition and lifestyle, symptoms, fatigue and insomnia, treatment, and environment. A series of regression models stratified by perceived cause suggested that disability could be explained by different constructs across the larger of the main themes. The findings are discussed in terms of the false view that mechanical neck pain should be considered a homogenous condition and potential application to treatment decision making based on patient perspectives.

Illness perceptions in people with chronic and disabling non-specific neck pain seeking primary healthcare: a qualitative study

“…They had received conflicting information (e.g., Q35) or information that did not fit their own experiences, which did not help to gain control over their situation. In addition, other studies also found that people associated multiple biopsychosocial factors with the onset or persistence of their neck pain [ 37 , 70 ]. In people with WAD, the influence of compensation and funding systems on obtaining optimal care to improve their condition was explicitly mentioned [ 27 ], while in the current study only one participant (out of eight people with traumatic neck pain and twelve people with non-traumatic neck pain) raised this as a concern.…”

A Comparison of the Effects of Stochastic Resonance Therapy, Whole-Body Vibration, and Balance Training on Pain Perception and Sensorimotor Function in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The recurrence and chronicity of neck pain are further estimated to be 14% to 37%, respectively [ 3 ]. In most cases of neck pain, except for cases of diagnosed myelopathy and fracture, the pathomechanism of neck pain, similar to that of low back pain, is not fully understood [ 3 - 5 ]. Nevertheless, a variety of sensorimotor impairments have been observed in patients with neck pain, such as increased postural instability [ 6 ] and decreased cervical joint position sense (CJPS) acuity [ 7 , 8 ].…”