Neck Pain: A Practical Approach S Jai Shanthini, Waleed Al Busairi, AJ Rajendran
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1Neck Pain: A Practical Approach2
3Neck Pain: A Practical Approach
S Jai Shanthini MD DNB Physiatrist Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Al Farwaniya Hospital Ministry of Health, Kuwait Waleed Al Busairi MD PhD Consultant and Head of the Department Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Al Adan Hospital Ministry of Health, Kuwait AJ Rajendran DNB DPMR Physiatrist Cardiac Rehabilitation Department Cardiac Diseases Hospital Ministry of Health, Kuwait Foreword Peter Pauly
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Neck Pain: A Practical Approach
First Edition: 2014
9789351523154
Printed at
5Dedicated to
All our patients who contributed to our quest for knowledge and perfection
6
7FOREWORD
With great pleasure and honor, I contribute some thoughts in a Foreword to this highly prevailing book. Every physician, who treats musculoskeletal problems, sees patients with neck pain. With a lifetime prevalence of over 70% and annual prevalence of 43%, it is a common condition, which causes very high expenses to all communities. Two-thirds of the population have neck pain at some point in their lives. It can be caused by numerous spinal problems; it may arise due to muscular tightness in the neck and upper back, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. Osteoarthritis or joint disruption in the neck or upper back can create painful conditions. The top three joints in the neck allow most movements of the neck and head. The lower joints in the neck and those of the upper back create the supportive structure of the cervical spine. If this support system is affected adversely, the muscles in the area will tighten as well, leading to neck pain. Neck pain may also arise from many other physical and emotional health problems. With good reason, referring to psychogenic origin of neck pain, the trapezius muscle is sometimes called the ‘soul of muscle’.
This book gives us the chance to increase the quality of treatments we recommend for neck pain by using clear algorithms and evaluating each of them for their efficiency and evidence.
This wonderful book will help physicians do the right thing at the right time for their patients with neck pain.
With best regards
Prim Dr Peter Pauly msc
Consultant and Head
Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Vöcklabruck
Austria
8
9PREFACE
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free……
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way….
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
—Rabindranath Tagore in Gitanjali
Well, the head could be held high only with a normal and a healthy neck. One of the early milestones in the development of a newborn is head control. This signals the development of the neck extensor muscles. In some communities, the day the child achieves this milestone is a day of celebration.
 
 
Neck Pain or Pain in the Neck?
In this modern technological era, neck pain is one of the most common complaints in clinical practice. Work ergonomics and poor posture have become the important causative factors. With the advent of technology where computers and laptops have become part of a common man's life, our perspective of neck pain has also evolved and changed. So much so the bone and joint decade (2000–2010) had created a ‘task force on neck pain’, which submitted its report and recommendation in February 2008.
 
Prevalence of Neck Pain
Population-based studies of neck pain suggest a lifetime prevalence of over 70% and annual prevalence of 43%. In a Canadian study, 6-month prevalence of neck pain was 40%. Perhaps, no other part of the body is the cynosure of attention of multispecialties as the neck.
The aim of this book is to highlight the key points in the approach to a patient presenting with neck pain. The book is designed in such a way that it can be used as an easy and reliable guide by general practitioners, physiotherapists and all the clinicians interested in the management of neck pain.
The book consists of two parts. Part 1 covers the basics including clinical anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical examination and diagnosis. Part 2 begins with the pharmacology of drugs used in the management of neck pain. Good practice should not stop with the prescription of drugs—so a separate chapter on nonpharmacological management of neck pain is added. The chapter on complementary and alternative medicine completes the spectrum of treatment choices available for the patient. We have concluded with some case descriptions and illustrations.
SUGGESTED READING
  1. Côté P. The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey. The prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adult spine. 1998;23:1689–98.
  1. Guez, et al. Prevalence of neck pain. Population-based study from Northern Sweden. Acta Orthop Scandinavia. 2002;73:455–9.
  1. Walker-Bone K. Soft tissue rheumatic disorders of the neck and upper limb: prevalence and risk factors. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2003;33:185–203.
 
S Jai Shanthini
Waleed Al Busairi
AJ Rajendran
11ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank: