Neck or shoulder pain and low back pain in Finnish adolescents

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of self-reported neck or shoulder pain (NSP) and low back pain (LBP) among 12 -18-year-olds, A questionnaire was mailed to a nationally representative sa mple of 11,276 12-, 14-. 16- and 18-year-olds in 1991. The response rate wa s 77%. NSP was perceived at least once a week by 15% of 12-18-year-olds and LBP by 8%. Both symptoms were more prevalent among girls than among boys, and the prevalence increased with age. Among the determinants investigated, the number of perceived psychosomatic symptoms had the strongest associati on with NSP and LBP. Our study confirmed the co-morbidity of NSP and LBP, a nd indicated that NSP is more frequent than believed among 16-18-year-old g irls. The strong association of psychosomatic symptoms with NSP and LBP sug gests that the latter two pain states could be more psychosomatic than nosi ceptive in character.