Psychosocial factors relevant in neck disorders

The incidence of chronic neck and shoulder pain increases with age, but some
types of working can leave workers more prone to the condition, suggests a
study.

Scientists in France studied a random sample of male and female workers born
in 1938, 1943, 1948, and 1953, with 21,378 people interviewed.

They found the prevalence of chronic neck and shoulder pain increased with
age and was more frequent among women.

Repetitive working under time constraints, awkward work for men and
repetitive work for women all contributed to the development of these
disorders, independently of age.

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But psychosocial factors also seemed to play a role in both the development
and disappearance of chronic neck and shoulder pain, and the data did not show
specific interactions between age and working conditions, the scientists found.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;59:537-544