The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension
A Cross-Sectional Study Correlating Degeneration of the Cervical Spine With Disability and Pain in United Kingdom Patients
Study Design . A prospect i ve cross-sectional study was conducted . Objective . To determine the relation between degeneration of all the joints in the cervical spine , and to identify the effects of litigation on pain and disability levels in trauma and nontrauma patients . Summary of Background Data . The link between spinal degeneration and patient symptoms remains controversial . Two recent similar studies present conflicting results concerning the association between spinal degeneration and symptomatology . These two studies , performed in different countries , did not consider the impact of impending litigation on self-reported pain and disability levels . The role of the uncovertebral and facet articulations has hitherto not been investigated . Methods . Radiographic and question naire data from 180 consecutive patients with neck pain were collected .  Neck pain severity was measured using two time-dependent scales . All patients completed the Neck Disability Index ( NDI ) and questions about chronicity , etiology , and associated litigation . The radiographs were evaluated for the number of levels of degeneration and the severity of degeneration in the discs as well as the uncovertebral and facet articulations . Results . In this study , 71 patients ( 40.57 % ) reported neck pain  as a result of injury . However , only 5.1 % had associated litigation . There was no statistically significant difference in pain severity or disability levels between the patients with and those without cervical degeneration . According to the findings , the number of levels of cervical degeneration and the severity of degeneration in the discs , facets , and uncovertebral joints are not related to the levels of pain and disability . Patients reporting neck pain caused by injury had a tendency ( P = 0.055 ) to more pain during the preceding week and significantly more disability ( P < 0.001 ) . Significant differences included pain intensity ( P < 0.025 ) , reading ( P < 0.001 ) , headaches ( P < 0.025 ) , ability to drive ( P < 0.01 ) , and concentration ( P < 0.01 ) . Women reported significantly more pain ( P < 0.01 ) and disability ( P < 0.001 ) than men , but did not have more degeneration in any of the joints . Conclusions . In patients with neck pain , there is no difference in reported pain and disability levels between those with and those without evidence of cervical spine degeneration . Patients whose neck pain is the result of trauma report significantly more pain and disability than nontrauma patients . This is not because of more spinal degeneration or overriding litigation issues
The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension