Neck pain

Neck pain is a common complaint resulting from disorders of any muscles, nerves and bones in the neck. The pain can be work-related (e.g. due to neck muscles that are strained due to poor work postures such as hunching over a computer or work bench) and non-work-related (e.g. due to a driving accident in which a car is rear-ended, resulting in whiplash). IWH research seeks to determine the work-related risk factors for neck pain, how many workers report it, and how to best treat it to ensure a safe and timely recovery and return to work.

Featured

A man sitting on a couch holds his shoulder in pain
At Work article

IWH study finds 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain more than a year after injury

A high proportion of injured workers in Ontario experience persistent pain for well over a year after their work-related injury. According to an IWH study of workers' compensation lost-time claimants, 70 per cent of workers experience pain 18 months after their work injury.
Published: September 30, 2022
Man in white t-shirt holds neck
Research Highlights

Work absenteeism and recurrent neck pain

A small but important minority—14 per cent—of injured workers experience recurrent neck pain, accounting for 40 per cent of all lost-time days due to neck pain, according to a study of claims made to Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Published: January 2011
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Five non-surgical neck pain treatments work equally well

A study of five non-surgical treatments for neck pain — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Cox-2 inhibiting NSAIDs, exercise, mobilization, and manipulation — found no one treatment option for neck pain was found to be clearly superior when both benefits and harms were considered.
Published: November 2008
At Work article
At Work article

International task force reports on neck pain

Read about some of the findings from the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders.
Published: February 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Neck pain common among adults, review shows

The first review summarizing studies about the impact and causes of neck pain in the general population finds it a common condition. Risk factors include age, gender and genetics, as well as smoking, exposure to tobacco, and psychological health.
Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

For many, whiplash recovery is prolonged

Nearly half of those diagnosed with whiplash-associated disorders reported neck pain symptoms one year after their injury. Those with more severe initial symptoms faced even slower recovery, according to a study.
Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Optimism, social support improve neck pain recovery

Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Several non-invasive treatments work for neck pain

Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

For many workers, neck pain lasts at least a year

Neck pain is a persistent and recurring problem in workers. About 60 per cent of workers who experienced neck pain reported having it one year later.
Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Does chiropractic care for neck pain increase stroke risk?

Despite reports linking chiropractic care with vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke, this study finds no evidence that visits to a chiropractor increase the risk of a stroke.
Published: January 2008
Research Highlights
Research Highlights

Neck pain patients can be triaged into four groups

Clinicians who assess patients with neck pain should triage them into one of the four categories or grades to determine the need for further diagnosis or treatment.
Published: January 2008