Figure 1 from A new conceptual model of neck pain: linking onset, course, and care: the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. | Semantic Scholar (2024)

A new conceptual model is provided for linking the epidemiology of neck pain with its management and consequences, and can assist people with neck pain, researchers, clinicians, and policy makers in framing their questions and decisions.

Few modifiable prognostic factors were identified; however, having some influence over one's own job and being physically active seem to hold promise as prognostic Factors for neck pain.

A systematic search and critical review of the literature published between 1980 and 2006 found that 46% of the research literature was of acceptable scientific quality to inform clinical practice, policy-making, and future research.

The Neck Pain Task Force undertook a best evidence synthesis to establish a baseline of the current best evidence on the course and prognosis for WAD, finding that recovery of WAD seems to be multifactorial.

The best available evidence suggests initial assessment for neck pain should focus on triage into 4grades, and those with common neck pain might be offered the listed noninvasive treatments if short-term relief is desired.

The best evidence synthesis suggests that therapies involving manual therapy and exercise are more effective than alternative strategies for patients with neck pain; this was also true of therapies which include educational interventions addressing self-efficacy.

A best evidence synthesis on the burden and determinants of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) after traffic collisions found that occupant seat position and collision impact direction were associated with WAD in one study and younger ages and being a female were both associated with filing claims or seeking care for WAD.

Neck pain was more prevalent among women and prevalence peaked in middle age, and future research should concentrate on longitudinal designs exploring preventive strategies and modifiable risk factors for neck pain.

This study demonstrates the challenges in conducting overviews on prognosis where clear synthesis critieria and a lack of specifics of primary data in SR are barriers.

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A systematic search and critical review of the literature published between 1980 and 2006 found that 46% of the research literature was of acceptable scientific quality to inform clinical practice, policy-making, and future research.

Preliminary evidence is found that gender, occupation, headaches, emotional problems, smoking, poor job satisfaction, awkward work postures, poor physical work environment, and workers' ethnicity may be associated with neck pain.

The use of sporting gear to prevent other types of injury was not associated with increased neck injuries in bicycling, hockey, or skiing, and future research should concentrate on longitudinal designs exploring preventive strategies and modifiable risk factors for neck pain.

The best available evidence suggests initial assessment for neck pain should focus on triage into 4grades, and those with common neck pain might be offered the listed noninvasive treatments if short-term relief is desired.

The best evidence synthesis suggests that therapies involving manual therapy and exercise are more effective than alternative strategies for patients with neck pain; this was also true of therapies which include educational interventions addressing self-efficacy.

It is not clear from the evidence that long-term outcomes are improved with the surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy compared to nonoperative measures, but relatively rapid and substantial symptomatic relief after surgical treatment seems to be reliably achieved.

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