Incidence and risk factors for development and persistence of musculoskeletal symptoms in spine in undergraduate students : a 1-year prospective cohort study

To examine the annual incidence of development and persistence of self-reported neck, upper back and low back pain and to explore individual, computer-use related and psychosocial risk factors for the development and persistence of neck, upper back and low back pain in undergraduate students. A prospective study was carried out among 684 healthy undergraduate students. At baseline, a self-administered questionnaire and a standardized physical examination were used to collect data on biopsychosocial factors. At the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months, follow-up data were collected on spinal pain. The regression models were built to find out risk factors for the incidence and persistence of spinal pain in undergraduate students. A total of 524 (77%) undergraduate students were followed for 1 year. The 12-month incidence rates of neck, upper back and low back pain were 46%, 27% and 30%, respectively. The 12-month persistent rates of neck, upper back and low back pain were 33%, 23% and 31%, respectively. The incidence rate of spinal pain was related to gender, quadriceps muscle length, frequency of weekly exercise session and computer-use related factors in undergraduate students using desktop and notebook computers. The persistent rate of neck and upper back pain was related to being 2nd year students, neck extensor muscle endurance and computer-use related factors in undergraduate students using desktop and notebook computers.