PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - E Viikari-Juntura
AU  - R Martikainen
AU  - R Luukkonen
AU  - P Mutanen
AU  - E-P Takala
AU  - H Riihimäki
TI  - Longitudinal study on work related and individual risk factors affecting radiating neck pain
AID  - 10.1136/oem.58.5.345
DP  - 2001 May 01
TA  - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
PG  - 345--352
VI  - 58
IP  - 5
4099  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/58/5/345.short
4100  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/58/5/345.full
SO  - Occup Environ Med2001 May 01; 58
AB  - OBJECTIVES To study the effects of work related and individual factors affecting radiating neck pain. METHODS A longitudinal study was carried out with repeated measurements. A total of 5180 Finnish forest industry workers replied to a questionnaire survey in 1992 (response rate 75%). Response rates to follow up questionnaires in 1993, 1994, and 1995 were 83%, 77%, and 90%, respectively. The outcome variable was the number of days with radiating neck pain during the preceding 12 months with three levels (<8, 8–30, >30 days). The generalised estimating equations method was used to fit a marginal model and a transition model was used in a predictive analysis. RESULTS Items showing associations with radiating neck pain in both analyses were sex, age, body mass index, smoking, duration of work with a hand above shoulder level, mental stress, and other musculoskeletal pains. In the transition model, radiating neck pain in a previous questionnaire was included in the model. Although it was a strong predictor, the variables already mentioned retained their significance. CONCLUSION Programmes targeted to reduce physical load at work, mental stress, being overweight, and smoking could potentially prevent radiating neck pain.