Abstract 21 — A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Non-Specific Neck Pain and Its Association with Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

Background Non-specific neck and shoulder pain is a prevalent condition among working adults. The surge in remote work and online activities following the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the potential increase in such pain due to prolonged usage of electronic devices. However, recent literature has introduced the possibility that desk-bound computer work may not necessarily correlate with neck and shoulder pain. This study aims to explore the relationship between the severity of neck and shoulder pain and the duration of electric device usage, alongside other lifestyle factors. Methods An online survey was distributed through email and advertisements to individuals aged 21 and above in Singapore. The survey collected data on participant demographics, the extent of neck and shoulder pain experienced, the duration of computer and smartphone usage, as well as lifestyle factors like sleep duration and exercise frequency. The Institutional Review Board approval number of this study is 2023014. Results A total of 268 valid responses were collected, comprising 182 participants experiencing neck and shoulder pain (I group) and 86 participants without such pain (C group). Both groups exhibited similar demographics. Notably, a significant difference was identified in the exercise frequency per week (I = 2.17 days; C = 2.95 days, p < 0.01), while the difference in sitting duration approached statistical significance (I = 7.13 hrs; C = 6.38 hrs, p = 0.085). No statistically significant differences were observed in the duration of smartphone usage (I = 5.19 hrs; C: 4.62 hrs, p = 0.18), computer use (I = 6.24 hrs; C = 5.94 hrs, p = 0.51), and average daily exercise time (I = 1.87 hrs; C = 1.85 hrs, p = 0.99). Within the group experiencing neck and shoulder pain, a significant correlation emerged between pain levels and age (r = 0.19, p = 0.01). Conversely, no significant correlations were detected between pain levels and computer or smartphone usage duration, prolonged sitting, sleep duration, exercise frequency or duration. Conclusion In this ongoing study, preliminary findings indicate that the existence of neck and shoulder pain does not exhibit a significant association with the duration of sitting work, smartphone or computer use. Interestingly, the exercise frequency might have a potential relationship with neck and shoulder pain. Notably, our data demonstrates a weak yet statistically significant correlation between the severity of neck and shoulder pain and the age of participants but not other lifestyle factors.