Factors associated with physical activity participation in adults with chronic cervical spine pain: a systematic review

Neck Pain Clinical Prediction Rule to Prescribe Combined Aerobic and Neck-Specific Exercises: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

A previous randomized controlled trial revealed that combined aerobic and neck-specific exercises yielded greater improvement than neck-specific exercises alone after a 6-month intervention in outpatients with nonspecific neck pain (NP). The aim of this secondary analysis was to identify subgroups of patients in the combined exercises group most likely to benefit from the intervention.

METHODS

Sixty-nine patients were included. The original trial was conducted in multiple physical therapy outpatient clinics twice a week for 6 weeks; follow-up was 6 months after assignment. The primary outcome was the therapeutic success rate (Global Rating of Change Score ≥ +5, "quite a bit better") after 6 weeks of training and at the 6-month follow-up. Candidate predictors from patients' medical history and physical examination were selected for univariable regression analysis to determine their association with treatment response status. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to derive preliminary clinical prediction rules.

RESULTS

The clinical prediction rule contained 3 predictor variables: (1) symptom duration ≤6 months, (2) neck flexor endurance ≥18 seconds, and (3) absence of referred pain (Nagelkerke R2 = .40 and -2 log likelihood = 60.30). The pre-test probability of success was 61.0% in the short term and 77.0% in the long term. The post-test probability of success for patients with at least 2 of the 3 predictor variables was 84.0% in the short term and 87.0% in the long term; such patients will likely benefit from this program.

CONCLUSION

A simple 3-item assessment, derived from easily obtainable baseline data, can identify patients with NP who may respond best to combined aerobic and neck-specific exercises. Validation is required before clinical recommendation.

IMPACT

Patients experiencing NP symptoms ≤6 months who have no referred pain and exhibit neck flexor endurance ≥18 seconds may benefit from a simple self-training program of combined aerobic and neck-specific exercises.

Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain: a cross-sectional study among 16,000 adults in five county councils in Sweden

Background

Neck and shoulder pain is common in the general population, but studies on factors related to the risk of neck and shoulder pain have produced inconclusive results. Known factors related to pain include general physical activity, exercise, sleep disorders, and lifestyle, but further research is needed to improve our ability to prevent neck and shoulder pain. The aim was to investigate whether neck and shoulder pain are associated with physical domains (i.e., aerobic physical activities, general physical activities, and sitting time), sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and/or working time.

Methods

This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden in 2017 and included 16,167 individuals, aged 18 to 63 years. We administered a questionnaire to determine neck and shoulder pain, the time spent in general physical activity or aerobic physical activity, the time spent sitting, sleep disturbances, general health, job satisfaction, and the time spent working. Factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were explored using logistic regression.

Results

Significant factors associated with neck and shoulder pain were: overall health, sleep quality, and aerobic exercise. The odds of sustaining neck and shoulder pain increased with moderate or poor health (odds ratios [ORs]: 2.3 and 2.8, respectively) and sleep disorders (OR: 1.7). Conversely, aerobic physical activity performed more than 60 min/week at a level that enhanced respiratory and heart rate was associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck and shoulder pain (OR: 0.8).

Conclusions

Although no causal relationships could be determined in the present study, the results highlight important associations between aerobic exercise, undisturbed sleep, good health, and the absence of upper body pain. Exercises that enhance breathing and heart rate were associated with a reduced risk of experiencing neck or shoulder pain, but there was no association between general physical activity and upper body pain. Therefore, clinicians may not recommend low-intensity activities, such as walking, for preventing or improving neck and shoulder pain.

Association of decreased physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic with new-onset neck pain in survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to stay at home and to maintain social distancing. This study aimed to assess the association of reduced physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic with new onset of neck pain (katakori) among a rural Japanese population living in areas damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective cohort study has been conducted continuously since 2011 after the GEJE. This study used longitudinal data from 1608 adults who responded to the self-reported questionnaire before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic were categorised into four groups: 'no change', 'decreased by 20%-30%', 'decreased by half' and 'almost never go out'. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the OR and 95% CI of the association between COVID-19 pandemic-related physical inactivity and new-onset neck pain.

RESULTS

In total, 'no change', 'decreased by 20%-30%', 'decreased by half', and 'almost never go out' were reported by 9.2%, 27.7%, 31.2% and 21.9% of respondents, respectively. Among them, 9.8% reported new-onset neck pain. A significantly higher rate of new-onset neck pain was observed in participants who reported 'decreased by half' (adjusted OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.30) and who 'almost never go out' (adjusted OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.91), compared with those who reported 'no change.'

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased physical activity has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was significantly associated with new-onset neck pain among GEJE survivors.

Is kinesiophobia a predictor of early functional performance after total hip replacement? A prospective prognostic cohort study

Background

Considerable attention has been paid to the role of kinesiophobia with respect to knee prosthesis but it has not yet been studied as a prognostic factor of short-term functional performance following total hip replacement. The main purpose of the present study is to examine the possible predictors of early functional performance of patients undergoing total primary hip arthroplasty, including demographics as age, sex and body mass index, preoperative functional ability, type of anaesthesia, level of haemoglobin, pain and level of kinesiophobia before surgery. Secondly, we want to describe the main characteristics of the population with the highest levels of kinesiophobia.

Methods

A prospective, prognostic cohort study was carried out. Patients undergoing primary hip replacement were recruited consecutively. The main outcome is the early functional performance achieved by patients after surgery and measured using the Iowa Level of Assistance (ILOA) scale on the fifth postoperative day. Preoperative kinesiophobia was measured by the Tampa Scale and the preoperative functional ability by the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The multivariate analysis was performed by the General Linear Model. The analysis of the population with high levels of kinesiophobia was conducted by identifying a cut-off of 40 compared to the Tampa Scale.

Results

Statistical analysis was performed on 269 patients. The average ILOA score recorded was 19.5 (DS 8.3). The levels of kinesiophobia, showed an average score of 35.1 (7.8) and it was not associated with early functional performance. The independent predictive factors include age, sex and body mass index. Kinesiophobia high levels were recorded in 30% of the population and this population had a higher level of pre-operative WOMAC score.

Conclusions

Early functional performance after hip replacement surgery was not correlated with the level of kinesiophobia. Three significant factors that describe a population most at risk of not achieving optimal functional performance are increased age, being female and increase in body mass index. In the preoperative phase, high levels of kinesiophobia were associated with more impaired preoperative functional ability.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials NCT02786121, May 2016. Retrospectively registered.

The prevalence of fear avoidance and pain catastrophising amongst patients with chronic neck pain

Background

Cognitive factors impact chronic pain, but the prevalence of fear avoidance (FA) and pain catastrophising (PC) in individuals suffering from chronic neck pain (CNP) has not been investigated in South Africa.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of FA and PC in patients with CNP at private physiotherapy practices in Johannesburg.

Method

The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) (α = 0.80) and Pain Catastrophising Scale (α = 0.87) self-report questionnaires were used in a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of FA and PC, respectively. Descriptive statistics and correlations using Pearson’s or Spearman’s coefficient were conducted between demographic variables and FA and PC. Non-parametric data were tested using the Wilcoxon rank-sum or Kruskal–Wallis test. Cohen’s d-value or r-value measured strength of associations.

Results

A sample of 106 CNP patients with a mean age of 48.7 years (± 14.8) from 25 randomly selected private practices participated in the study. Of the participants, 81% were women (n = 86). Fear avoidance and PC had a prevalence of 25.5% (n = 27) and 15.1% (n = 16), respectively. A positive correlation was found between FA-11-Total and PC-Total (r = 0.684; p = 0.0001) and between FA (TSK-11-Total and TSK-SF (somatic focus)) and PC and its subscales (r ≥ 0.602; p = 0.0001). Participants with a secondary education (26.0 ± 3.4) showed a higher FA than those with tertiary education (21.9 ± 1.5). Effect size was moderate (Cohen’s d = 0.60). Pain intensity correlated positively with both FA (Pearson’s correlation: r = 0.33; p = 0.001) and PC (Spearman’s correlation; r = 0.39; p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

FA and PC affect a number of patients with CNP. A lower level of education was associated with FA and a higher pain intensity was associated with higher FA and PC.

Clinical implications

Identifying FA and PC in patients with CNP is important to facilitate holistic management.

Supervised Physical Activity and Improved Functional Capacity among Adults Living with HIV: A Systematic Review

Physical activity (PA) combats the effects of multimorbidity and antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV (PLWH), but PLWH often don't meet recommended PA guidelines. The purpose of our review was to investigate whether supervised PA improved functional capacity in PLWH. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were followed. Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials in English, with participants ages 18 years and older, and a supervised PA intervention. A database search yielded 8,267 articles, with 15 eligible for review inclusion. We found a low risk of bias within and across studies. Combined aerobic/progressive resistance training (PRT) improved strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility outcomes; aerobic interventions alone showed no significant improvements; PRT improved strength outcomes; yoga or yoga/meditation showed no outcome differences; and t'ai chi showed cardiovascular and flexibility improvements. We found that supervised PA increased functional capacity in PLWH and that self-report was not a reliable assessment.