Risk factors for neck and shoulder pain among schoolchildren and adolescents

Aim: To evaluate the potential risk factors for neck and shoulder pain among schoolchildren. Methods: Demographic, physical/leisure activity, school-related and psychosocial factors for neck/shoulder pain were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 1611 schoolchildren aged 11–14 years. Results: Neck and shoulder complaints were reported in 27.9 and 19.0% of the sample, respectively. According to multivariate logistic regression models, high desk height (odds ratio (OR) = 2.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–4.07), forward-inclined seat pan (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.40–4.05), time spent (30–60 min/day) carrying school bag (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.16–2.23) and psychosocial factors (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.03–3.72) independently increased the risk of neck pain, while low body mass index (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42–0.95) decreased it. Time spent on watching TV (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02–2.06), backward-inclined seat backrest (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.02–2.58), curved seat backrest (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.05–3.08), too much homework (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03–2.03) and psychosocial factors (conduct problems) (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.07–2.46) independently increased the risk of shoulder pain, while prosocial behaviour (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35–0.90) decreased it. Conclusion: Both physical and psychosocial factors influenced the risk for neck/shoulder pain in school-aged children, suggesting that they should be considered in assessment and treatment of such symptoms in this population.