Citation

Karels CH, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Burdorf A, Verhagen AP, Nauta AP, Koes BW. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 2007; 60(8): 839-848.

Affiliation

Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands. c.karels@erasmusmc.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.11.012

PMID

17606181

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical course and prognostic factors of complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study in physical therapy practice. Participating physiotherapists recruited new consulters with musculoskeletal complaints of the neck and/or upper extremities. Participants filled in questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The main outcome measure was the persistence of complaints over 6-month follow-up. Possible predictors like social and psychological factors, physical factors, and complaint specific factors were tested in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Of the 624 participants at baseline 543 (87%) returned at least one follow-up questionnaire. At 6-month follow-up, 40% had persisting pain and discomfort. Somatization, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and a long duration of complaints at baseline were significantly related to the persistence of complaints over 6 months in the total population. In those with paid work (77%), catastrophizing, low decision authority at work, and a long duration of complaints at baseline were significantly related to the persistence of complaints over 6 months. CONCLUSION: 40% of the participants had persisting pain and discomfort after 6 months and mainly social and psychological factors played a role in this course.

Language: en